The Yak Shack Forum

After watching various programs on the television tonight, seeing the terrible pictures coming out of America after hurrican Katrina hit. I just can't help but think about all the people who have lost there homes and everything and in some terrible cases even there lives.

So I ask everyone on the forum to just think before they buy that card on eBay or a take-away as they can't be bothered to make anything (We all do it ;)) to just think how much difference that money might make to someone who realy needs it.

Or even if you could spare a few $ USD or £ GBP to help, please donate something via the following like. https://www2.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

If people want to donate anything but don't have a credit card etc or what ever I would be happy to collect donations and send them via the Red Cross website!

I dont really do this very often, I just think this is something I need to ask, as everyone on this forum is either from the USA or has a friend or someone who lives in the USA. I know we won't make a massive difference but as they say "Every little helps" nd maybe we can all be hero's (In a small way)

Absoloutely - how's the site now Martyn? When I donated it was so slow I couldn't believe it - I got so fed up I was about to paypal some money to another member for them to stick in a donation box, but I persevered knowing that the fastest way to get the money there was direct and online.

Thanks, Martyn and Roz.  Americans are stepping it up over here as usual to help out.  It's nice to know that someone overseas wants to help too.  We all appreciate it.   ;)

Have American news reports shown the Red Cross helping out? The BBC hasn't shown anything at all! Is this the main way of getting help to New Orleans?

The red cross is doing great in cities where the evacuees have been bused, like Houston and Baton Rouge.  They are trying to get everyone OUT of the city to be helped.  New Orleans is still hard to get into because everything is underwater and the roaming gangs taking random shots at people aren't helping.  The military moved in today and I'm sure everything will be under control soon.  For a city under sea level, local and state government should have had a better emergency flood plan.

I just made another donation, and it went very smoothly and quick!

Here are some other places to donate.  I got this off of AOL so I'm not sure how much longer the link will work.  Please always donate to well established charities like these.  Soon there will be all kinds of fake relief organizations out there just waiting to steal your money.  I just heard this morning at church that the Southern Baptist food service teams have been providing over 60,000 meals a day.  If you can't donate this week, help will be needed for months and months to come, so donate when you can.  These people have lost their homes, possessions and jobs.  New Orleans will be underwater for a long time.
http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/?source=AOL&cmpgn=NEWS&RTP=http://news.channel.aol.com/

It looks like some other sites have been taking the heat off the American Red Cross website - you can donate indirectly at amazon

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/paypage/PELYGQVJ8Q7IB/102-1377569-9429729

The good thing about this site is they show how much they've collected so far!!! As I write now it's on $9.8 million but I don't think that it has been up long.