several charitable organizations are listed (scroll down) at

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9115520/

Thanks Elaine. Our hearts go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

ttt

For our American friends reading the Europe board: the Red Cross is also asking for blood donations.

For our european friends........

I think it's our turn to get help from other countries.......

How about it??????

When any other country has a disaster or war who is in there first to help!!!

USA

Like I said...It's payback time...this is one thing you folks can do...

Forgive me, Areala, but your attitude needs a lot of adjustment.

"When any other country has a disaster or war who is in there first to help!!!

USA

Like I said...It's payback time...this is one thing you folks can do..."


When disaster strikes around the world we are no longer the first to respond, nor the most generous. Giving to help people in need should be done because it's the right thing to do, not because 'it's payback time'. I'm sorry but your attitude disgusts me.

Areala has tried to hijack this same thread topic on the USA board, despite requests that he/she not do so simply because fodors could decide to freeze or delete the thread. I too have opinions about what he/she is saying,but will not express them here.
He/she obviously cares more about using this thread to vent or troll, than he/she cares about increasing donations.

I don't expect the countries that we donate money to, to pay us back. We did it because it was the right thing to do...but saying we aren't the most generous isn't true; here is an objective website and there are plenty of other webistes that support these same facts. http://www.jewishresearch.org/PDFs/MegaGiving_05.pdf

I know that Americans will dig deep and pour their generosity out to other Americans.

Thank you for posting this information elaine. I am thankful to have made contact with my family members who live in LA tonight.

As for the inappropriate comments made by a certain poster, they do not even merit argument.

I'm still looking for the news report about the Indonesian Navy showing up with loads of food, water & money to help out.

Thank you elaine!

For someone who lives in Florida, they are especially inappropriate remarks to make, Areala.

Thank you Elaine. I plan to make good use of this info.

"I'm still looking for the news report about the Indonesian Navy showing up with loads of food, water & money to help out"

Well, maybe Indonesian navy is not in US waters. Unlike in the opposite case.

Elaine, many thanks for posting this info.
I think many of us travel to be "connected" with others. We enjoy sharing in the good stuff, and it is critical that we help each other when things are tough.

I will be donating funds to help and wish there were others ways I could....cannot give blood for USA -denied to British Citizens who have lived in the UK for more than 6 months, this includes my poor hubby too as he was posted there for three years. My prayers and thoughts are with all those who had to endure and will continue to endure Katrina. Prayers! Prayers!

Sorry you feel that way rfb but I do think Americans give and will give generously for this terrible disaster. My hubby and my self have already given to the Am Red Cross yesterday and plan on donating blood this week.

But every disaster, Mexico with earthquakes, tsnuami and I can go on and on and the USA is there to help. OK maybe we are not always 100% of the time the first ones there but we are there and not just in funds. We have manpower sent wherever to help. My point is I just never seem to see an influx of other nations sending people in to help us. And I have to ask myself, why that is.

I have lost someone very dear to me in Gulport MS this past week so if my attitude seems to you to need a little adjusting I'm sorry you feel that way. My cousin was staying in Gulfport visiting friends and having fun going to Biloxi not knowing this was her last vacation on earth.

So I am sorry if I have offended anyone, that was not my intention.

I did not "hijack" this thread and yes I did post to both because I was actually trying to address other nations. I wasn't sure if they would be reading the USA board or the european board. After all "I" read both so why not them.

I may have been venting but I wasn't trolling. Every fox smells there own hole me thinks.....

Scarlett...yes I live in Florida and I think all the more reason to find out why other nations don't help us. I have seen first hand what a hurricane can do.

You know, I'm quite sure that at State Dept level other nations do offer to send whatever help is needed, but are told that we'll let them know if we need it. The truth is that we really don't need it. When the US and others help other nations it's because they are unable to help themselves.

Individual Americans are very generous, but as a country, we are no longer the top giver of aid.

If you know of someone who is worried about their pet, they can contact:
[email protected] or call 435.644.3965 ext.4455 and leave the following information:

Name and current contact information
Address where animal was left
Name of pet
Description of pet (species, breed, distinguishing characteristics)
Photo if available.

Best Friends will forward the information to folks who are going into the disaster area to help animals stranded and abandoned there.

There are many ways to help including donations to www.bestfriends.com

topping

For people who work for larger corporations, please find out if your company has a matching charitable gift program. Money that you donate to help the hurrican victims may be matched by corporate foundations.