Can I Get My Donation Back?

[SHRED]

Red Cross volunteers winging it
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051002/OPED0301/510020340/-1/OPED03

Seeing red at the Red Cross
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9545712

[cassiepriam]

1. Sorry, already spent on lattes and limos..... nt

[leftchick]

2. I don't think so...

I did not donate to them thank God. It was my gut instinct not to. Once run by a person named Dole making six figures set my alarm bells ringing.

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. That's exactly why I didn't donate.

Telling volunteers to "wing it" ?? All of that money donated, and no basic supplies at the Mamou shelter ?? That's disgusting.

[Skidmore]

7. It went to pay Blackwater to pay for security....

I'm really steamed about this. Get out there and do the work and people will respond. This is bogus crap. I will never donate to them again.

[deutsey]

4. A list of possible alternatives for the future

I can't vouch for these, but they might be worth considering:

http://www.wbai.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=6773&Itemid=0 (links found at this page)

List of organizations needing donations

Grassroots/Low-income/People of Color-led Hurricane Katrina Relief

List of organizations based in the Black community, compiled by hip-hop artist Kevin Powell

List of relief organizations compiled by AlterNet (alternative media site)

Displaced New Orleanians Initiate People's Hurricane Fund and Calls for Action

Donate to the Houston Emergency Community Radio Station
ACORN Natl. HQ Devastated; Relief Fund Established

Queer Humanitarianism: Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund: LGBT People Responding to World Need

National Youth Advocacy Coalition: Hurricane Relief Fund

Disaster Relief Information about People with Disabilities and Supporters

Relief Efforts for People with HIV/AIDS
Aid to Battered Women and Their Children - MADRE

League of Pissed Off Voters - New Orleans Fund (media & advocacy)

Media Justice Fact-finding Delegation to Katrina-Impacted Region

Humane Society - Hurricane Relief

Offers of Housing to the Uprooted: MoveOn.org

[Glenda]

5. Yeah, it seems almost better to give to local agencies

than to federal, which are either mis-managed or gutted by *Co.

You'd think that the Red Cross would be a safe bet. Who knew? :shrug:

I ended up giving to a local community technology group in Houston, which was setting up computers in the Astrodome for people looking for missing loved ones. I found this through Craigslist.

It's almost like people have to fend for themselves, which is probably what *Co wants anyway.

[shireen]

6. donating for pet rescue

there are similar complaints about the Humane Society (National organization, not the local community humane societies) and how they're handing dog rescue operations in Louisiana. I dug up some links to small grassroots organizations involved in Katrina pet rescue -- either by sending teams to Louisiana, or by taking in dogs from LA for either foster care (until their humans can be located) or adoption. If you're looking to contribute, find one in your state or browse their websites to see what kind of work they're doing.
The list is at http://www.imts.ohiou.edu/emily/pets/donate.rtf

Another useful resource if you know of someone searching for their pets: http://www.findkatrinapets.com It has a link to all databases that have found pet photos.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. Habitat for Humanity n/t

nt

[Pastiche423]

9. After hearing about the Red Cross and 9/11

I searched around to find (IMHO) the agency that would get more of my money to those that need it.

I chose: www.mercycorps.org

92% goes to programs

8% goes to administration

Plus, they send frequent emails as to what they have done.

[LittleClarkie]

10. The Red Cross are doing alright here

with our evacuees here in West Allis Wisconsin. No complaints that I've heard about from my friend who's volunteered there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Mebbe the volutneers will finally revolt?

Nah, not in the US... we don't have it in us....