freeform goodness

Too Big

There’s a great anecdote from my college years that involved a friend of mine, who I won’t mention by name because Google never forgets. This friend had been enjoying himself quite a bit at an off-campus party. Quite a bit… Anyway, he and some others were headed back to their dorms and his good time got to be a bit too much for him and he, well, he needed to return his stomach to a state of equilibrium. He staggered along, looking for a place to be sick. He ended up in front of Angell Hall, a really huge neoclassical building in the center of campus, looked up at the large stairway and imposing stone columns, and decided to find a different place to do his thing? When asked why, he simply replied: “Too big.”

I often find myself thinking the same thing whenever a truly catastrophic event happens and I try to decide whether or not to blog about it.

Katrina Relief Organizations Based in the Black Community

note: I transcribed this from an email and added some mild HTML (added links, etc.) any editing errors are my own

Compiled by hip-hop artist Kevin Powell (Kevinpowe@aol.com):

Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need……..

BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209
Dallas, TX 75240

OR you can make an online donation by going to www.blackamericaweb.com/relief
This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER

NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts

The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief effort.

Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to

NAACP Hurricane 
Katrina Relief Fund
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215

Donations can also be made online at: www.naacp.org/disaster/contribute.php

FYI, the NAACP, founded in 1909, is America’s oldest civil rights organization

www.teamrescueone.com

Set up by native New Orleans rapper Master P and his wife Sonya Miller

You can mail or ship non-perishable items to these following locations, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need….

Center for LIFE Outreach Center
121 Saint Landry Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson
337-504-5374

Mohammad Mosque 65
2600 Plank Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad
225-923-1400
225-357-3079

Lewis Temple CME Church
272 Medgar Evers Street
Grambling, LA 71245
atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton
318-247-3793

St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims
5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway
Dallas, TX 75223
atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies
214-821-2970

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
3815 Live Oak
Houston, Texas 77004
atten.: Deloyd Parker
713-521-0641

Five things you can do to help immediately:

1. Duplicate what we are doing elsewhere in New York City, in your city or town, on your college campus, at your church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious institution, via your fraternity or sorority, or via your local civic or social organization.

2. Cut and paste the information in this eblast about

Items needed by survivors of the New Orleans catastrophe:

• Monetary donations
• Where you can ship non-perishable items
• Alternative media outlets
• Five things you can do to help immediately

and share this information, as a ONE SHEET, with folks near and far, via email, or as a hand out at your event, religious institution, and with your civic or social organization.

3. Voice your opinion to local and national media, and to elected officials, via letter, email, op ed article, or phonecall, regarding the coverage of the New Orleans catastrophe, as well as to the federal government’s ongoing handling of the situation.

4. Ask the hotel you frequent, such as the Marriott or Holiday Inn, to give your hotel points to an individual or family in need of a stay for a night, a few nights, or longer, depending on how many points you have. Be sure to get confirmation that your points have been applied in that way. Encourage others to do the same. Also inquire if your airline Frequent Flyer mileage can be used for hotel stays as well.

   Finally, either offer to pay for hotel rooms, or encourage others to do so, including your place of employment or worship or your organization.

5. Dare to care about other human beings, no matter their race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, geography, culture, clothing, hairstyle, or accent or language. Like September 11th, the New Orleans catastrophe is a harsh reminder that all life is precious, as is each day we have on this earth.

AND REMEMBER that our attention and response to the New Orleans catastrophe needs to happen in three stages…DISASTER, RECOVERY, and REBUILDING. We need you for all three stages.

:: Dave Walker 21:12 (EST/EDT) [+]

:: [/currentevents/national]
:: tags: national

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