Hurricane Relief and Rebuilding: How you Can Help
On Monday August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina a Category 4 hurricane made landfall east of New Orleans, Louisiana causing widespread flooding and devastation throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In New Orleans, over 100,000 residents who both would not and/or could not leave the city were left behind to fend for themselves in the shelter of the Louisiana Superdome or the New Orleans Convention Center or some in their attics or on their rooftops. The chaos, destruction, death, despair and plight of New Orleans and its poorest residents has been well documented.
Hurricane PhotoWhile hundreds of first responders, the Coast Guard among them rescued thousands from rooftops, it is painfully clear that those in the New Orleans area experienced two disasters, the hurricane itself and the government response, or lack of a timely one. Today across the gulf coast, Katrina and its aftermath has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced tens of thousands and caused in Biloxi, and other parts of Mississippi and portions of Alabama, residents face a prolonged uphill battle to rebuild lives, homes, and neighborhoods.
However there is always hope. Millions of dollars have been raised by many of the relief organizations listed below and billions more will be spent at all levels of government to rebuild homes, schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructures and congregations as well. Thousands of individuals have donated resources both financial and in kind aid including their own homes to house displaced residents.
In the inevitable rebuilding effort ahead it is of critical importance that those displaced by the hurricane are the central participants and beneficiaries of public and private efforts to rebuild their cities when housing, employment, contracting and other key services and opportunities
are developed.
For its part, RestoreHope Consulting is working in pro bono capacities with local leaders, congregations and community organizations as well as government agencies to develop critical partnerships and ensure vital services reach those who need it the most. In addition we were excited to be one of the organizations supporting the 'Day of Healing", the opening night of the Yolanda Today gospel concert tour for those affected by the hurricane featuring Grammy award-winning gospel artists Yolanda Adams, J. Moss , and others on January 10, 2006 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Read the Press Release here)
This will be a long-term process. As a frequent visitor I will look forward to the day jazz flows from Preservation Hall in the French Quarter and beignets are served at Café Du Monde. More importantly, I anticipate the day when children will play on new safe playgrounds in the neighborhoods of the city, including the 9th ward and residents will return to safe homes, doctors to hospitals and pastors to their congregations.
Please continue to give and provide support to the charity of your choice today and in the weeks, months and years to come. Let us keep all of those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts
and prayers.
Jeremy White
President, RestoreHope Consulting
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How you can help:
African Methodist Episcopal Church Hurricane Relief Fund, 843-852-2645
American Red Cross, 800-HELP-NOW
America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070
Catholic Charities USA, 800-919-9338
Church of God in Christ Charities, 800-947-9350
Church World Service, 800-297-1516
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund, 202-606-6718
Episcopal Relief & Development, 800-334-7626, ext. 5129
National Baptist Convention USA, (877) NBC-4 AID
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283
Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, Ext. 6440
United Jewish Communities, 877-277-2477
United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583
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