more on katrina and new orleans

[jims69camaro]

i tried very hard to find a newspaper article or a news story on something good that came out of the tragedy that occured in LA. all you hear about is how people were looting stores, stealing their neighbor's possessions, using the red cross debit card to buy a vuitton hand bag - where is the good news?

i know it's all about sensationalism and getting ratings, but where are the heartwarming stories about how people rose to the challenge and helped each other out? i can't find them anywhere. so maybe you can help me out and tell me how you, in your own way, helped the survivors of the hurricane. don't make this about who did what before or immediately afterwards - or didn't do what - if i want to hear more of that, i can just turn on the news.

i'll start it off. i had my wife take a couple of boxes of food down to a truck that was parked locally accepting donations. she brought back a couple of things that they wouldn't accept, but the majority of it made it on the truck. she also filled a green garbage bag with clothes we haven't worn for a while (and probably wouldn't have again). i got rid of about half of my t-shirts, which is a good thing for me and for them. i also donated a pint of blood that they can use however it will best serve the people. i'm free of disease and i've got good, healthy red blood cells and normally would donate anyway. just knowing it would make the trip down to LA gave me an little extra special feeling this time.

[Squirrel]

<--- stopped caring a month ago...

[79CamaroDiva]

Do you know WHERE i can donate clothes to? I couldnt find a place, I had just cleaned out my closet the week before it happened and was gonna put it in a regular bin, but I'd rather it goes down there.

My dad and I were goign to go down there with our rescue squad. He asked me if I would and as much as I'd love to go, I had to turn him down. There's a ton of volunteers down there, and I really couldnt miss the classes, even if the professors would understand, I'd be so far behind. Our squad ended up not going, because they weren't calling anymore down, but they are on call. So in short, I did nothing, but I'm hoping to give these clothes to someone.

[NJSPEEDER]

donate your clothes to the salvation army. they may not all make it to hurricane victims, but they will all make it to people in need.

later
tim

[skorpion317]

the shop-rite that i work at is accepting donations.

truthfully, i wouldn't give a dime. it sickens me to hear of all the **** that went on in the aftermath of the storm. it just goes to show that most people, deep down, are lying, thieving dirtbags.

[Ian]

I donated 25 bucks to the red cross, but I guess someone used it to buy a ****ing purse! :evil:

where did you donate blood at? I have O positive so its universal and I'd like to donate as long as I know its going to new orleans.

[qwikz28]

i'd like to donate as well. i had a dream about a week ago that NJ was running out of blood, it was wierd. :oops: but yeah, maybe we should have a njfboa blood day. it sounds gay but why the hell not?

ps- i dont know what blood type i am so will they tell me there?

[The Fixer]

ps- i dont know what blood type i am so will they tell me there?

I don't remember if they tell you right on the spot, but they will tell you. You'll even find out how good or bad your cholesterol is.

I'm also O+, so I get calls from the vampires (AKA Blood Bank) at least once a month. :)

[Batman]

Having spent the better part of the first 2 weeks after the Hurricane there let me tell you, there isn't much good news coming out because there isn't much good news. There are some great people doing wonderful things down there but when we were dropping off a plane load of supplies I was talking to a Helicopter pilot who said he got shot at less in Iraq. Why on earth they are shooting up the rescue helicopters is beyond me, as is the riot they had at the Airport where they ran around stabbing civilian pilots and killing 2 of them (which was NOT publicized BTW but we got it first hand while we were there to watch our backs). Some people just can't be helped, they are animals. You shouldn't have to call in airborne rangers to a disaster scene to protect the rescuers. I help them now because it is my job, but I gave up feeling bad for them awhile ago. I feel for the displaced famalies now, that is about it. The other thing that pisses me off is you don't here much about the Gulfport/Biloxi area which is ,IMO, in worse shape then New Orleans. Flying over Gulfport there is just nothing left. The whole city is smashed to pieces but the people there are picking up and helping each other so it isn't "Newsworthy". Anyway it is a tradgedy no matter how you look at it and we just need to help pick up however we can and move on. And remember don't ***** with mother nature!

[Batman]

ps- i dont know what blood type i am so will they tell me there?

They will tell you when they test your blood, it is an immediate test. I tried to donate but couldn't :oops: , they don't want blood that has been in the mid-east in the past year and didn't seem too keen on the fact I had the Anthrax Vaccine (makes ya feel good inside!)

[qwikz28]

they don't want blood that has been in the mid-east in the past yearthen in that case i cannot donate

[JerzLT1]

<<< cant donate either... tattoos are no go for 6 months

[jims69camaro]

as to where, it was my local blood bank of new jersey in toms river. you can specify to them how to use the blood. hell, they'll even put it on ice for you if you're going to have an operation and are going to need a few pints.

the clothes and food were donated to a local group that were going down there themselves. the truck has already left, so there is no chance to get it on that one. i would just keep my eyes open for a drop-off point local to where you are and hope someone will still be taking stuff down there.

i heard on the radio that Ronald McDonald House charity will be taking specially donated funds directly to the worst hit areas to help rebuild and get food and clean water to those that need it. i guess there are special containers on the counter in your local mickey d's.

i cannot imagine what kind of vermin would shoot at a rescue helicopter. more of the same. there really is no escaping the bad news. tougher than i thought to find good news, for sure.