As many of you know, our family survived hurricane Katrina as our home was torn apart around us and we were displaced for quite some time. In short, we have firsthand experience and knowledge that large humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross are first rate when it comes to providing much needed food, water, medicine, supplies, volunteers and monetary help on the ground as quickly as possible.
Being a first responder in the midst of utter destruction I was responsible for search, rescue and recovery along with my collateral duties of protecting property against looting and general investigations of criminal activity while trying to keep my family safe and putting our home back together. Right up until this very moment we continue to rebuild and still feel the deep emotional and physical ramifications of August 29, 2005.
As tragic and despairing as our own experiences were in the aftermath of Katrina, though, I must admit that this earthquake and resulting human toll will be thousands of times larger in scale. The scars run deep with me, right into my heart, and the only thing in this world that is right and worthy is to remain diligent and to help those in need to the best of our ability.
Terresa and I provide regular donations to the Red Cross and I have already given a blood donation two weeks ago. Now we have sent additional donations to Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders and recommend them as efficient secular humanitarian agencies with an already established presence on the ground in
For those interested, the Foundation Beyond Belief and the American Humanist Association are wonderful organizations providing secular humanitarian networks and resources as well.
The most important thing we all can do is send whatever donations we can manage in order to help folks and then continue to do so for the next several months.
http://www.pih.org
http://doctorswithoutborders.org
http://foundationbeyondbelief.org
Subscribe to Mississippi Atheists