HOW YOU CAN HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS

Hurricane Katrina was nothing less than catastrophic in the amount of death and destruction it caused. From it's inital landfall in South Florida to the Catagory 4 monster that struck the Gulf South, the largest domestic relief effort in American history is now underway.

I feel this personally, because I have family and friends in the area near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It's my home, and it is heartbreaking to see and hear that places where I spent time and grew up are no longer there. While I am thankful that my family members have reported in safe and that their homes were not severely damaged, I know several people who were not as fortunate.

The people throughout the Gulf South region have been struck incredibly hard, and let's please not forget those in Texas and Louisiana affected last week by Hurricane Rita. So it's imperative that all of us who can PLEASE give generously as humanly possible to one or more of a number of established, reliable organizations who have a tradition of providing services to those in need.

One concern I should address here. Sadly, in situations such as this, there will always be scam artists who attempt to take advantage of the situation for their own benefit. PLEASE be cautious in your giving, and donate only to organizations who are established and experienced in disaster relief. And don't be afraid to request the organization's financial information to insure that much of the money you give goes to the intended purpose and not top-heavy with "administrative" costs.

I realize that many are unable or simply unconfortable about the idea of providing your personal information, such as your credit/debit card number, online. So below I've included their telephone and mailing contact information. I have placed all their online links in the sidebar, where they will remain for awhile.

ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES
(877) 227-2702

Adventist Community Services
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
ATTN: Disaster Response

AMERICAN RED CROSS:
If you give online, in the "Gift Information" section near the top of the page, please select National Disaster Relief Fund.
(800) HELP-NOW (435-7669)
En Espanol (800) 257-7575.

American Red Cross
Post Office Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013-7243

AMERICARES
(800) 486-HELP (4357)

AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Avenue
Stanford, CT 06902

AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST
(800) 771-2303

America's Second Harvest
35 East Wacker, #2000
Chicago, IL 00601

B'NAI B'RITH DISASTER RELIEF FUND
(202) 857-6600

B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K Street, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

BRETT FAVRE FORWARD FOUNDATION:

Brett Favre Forward Foundation
Beth Seymour, Executive Director
One Willow Bend
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
or
Nicolet Bank
111 North Washington Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
Attn: Brett Favre Forward Mississippi Relief Fund

CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA:
(800) 919-9338

Catholic Charities USA
Attn: Hurricane Katrina Relief
Post Office Box 25168
Alexandria, VA 22313-9788

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE
(800) 638-3522

ELCA Disaster Response
Post Office Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICES
(717) 859-2210

Mennonite Disaster Services
1018 Main Street
Akron, PA 17501

OPERATION BLESSING
(800) 730-2537

Operation Blessing International
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA
(800) 872-3283

Presbyternian Church USA
Individual Remittance Processing
Post Office Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION DISASTER RELIEF:
(770) 410-6133

Southern Baptist Convention - North American Mission Board
Attn: Disaster Relief
Post Office Box 116543
Atlanta, GA 30368
or
Florida Baptist Convention
Hurricane Disaster Relief
Attn: Baptist Men's Department
1230 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207

THE SALVATION ARMY:
If you give online, in the "Donation Options" section, please select Hurricane Relief.
(800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

The Salvation Army
Post Office Box 4857
Jackson, MS 39296-4857

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST:
If you attend a United Church of Christ congregation, you may also give payable to the local church marked Emergency USA. All gifts should include that in the memo portion of the check.

United Church of Christ
Wider Church Ministries
700 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
or
United Church of Christ - Florida Conference
924 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 250
Orlando, FL 32803

UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF
(800) 554-8583
If you attend a United Methodist congregation, you may also place your donation into any collection plate, marked for UMCOR Hurricanes 2005 Global.

United Methodist Committee On Relief
Post Office Box 9068
New York, NY 10087-9068