Valerie — Local / Alternatives to Red Cross
Topic(s): Activism | Comments Off on Valerie — Local / Alternatives to Red CrossDear friends,
The email below demonstrates alternate ways that we can aid the survivors of
Katrina, ways that will get very needed items and funds out this week.
Please read below.
best,
Valerie
— Danielle Abrams wrote:
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 20:28:40 -0400
From: Danielle Abrams
To: abrams.danielle@gmail.com
Subject: Suggestions for things to do locally re:
the hurricane catastrophe — please reply if interested
Hello friends,
The following was sent to me by Barbara Schulman, a friend and activist who
works for the NYC Human Rights Initiative. Below are numerous options for
ways you can offer to aid to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Additionally, a local effort is being organize by Barbara to make personal
care kits which will be sent to Mississippi by truck this Tuesday through an
organization called Black Aid (details below). If you are able to, please
drop off a care kit or send a check so that we can accomplish this task as
efficiently as possible. Her number is *718-499-5336.*
*DETAILS:*
PLEASE DROP PREPARED KITS AT BARBARA SCHULMAN’S HOUSE IN PARK SLOPE BY
THIS MONDAY EVENING. THEY WILL BE BOXED AND DELIVERED TO THE BLACK AID TRUCK
ON TUESDAY. IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION, YOU MUST PHONE US AT *718-499-5336*
FOR AN EXACT ADDRESS and TO SET UP A DROP-OFF TIME. (Danielle will be at
Barbara’s to help with the boxing during some of the day)
*If you want to deliver care kits yourselves, the truck will be loading
between 4-7pm Tues night at Harriet Tubman Park on Fulton St. (in front of
Boys and Girls High School).*
****If you can’t prepare any packets, but want to contribute money to this
effort, send a check made out to Barbara Schulman (send an email asap with
the amount), and she’ll direct it toward the massive shopping she will be
doing on Monday.***
Thanks in advance for anything you can do.
Danielle
**
> ———- Forwarded message ———-
>
> — On Sat 09/03, Barbara Schulman schulmanb@yahoo.com > wrote:
>
> Dear friends ˆ
>
> I’m writing because I’m sure you’re as horrified and outraged as I am
> about the situation facing those who are the victims not only of Hurricane
> Katrina, but also of our government’s reprehensible racism and contempt
> for the poor, who they clearly see as disposible. Like you, I have found
> it excruciating to sit here in my comfortable home witnessing the mass
> abandonment of some of the most exploited and vulnerable people in this
> country. I’ve been searching for something more concrete to do than
> sending money to the Red Cross, and I’ve come up with a few suggestions:
>
> 1) Prepare kits of personal items, pre-sorted for adults and children, to
> be delivered by a truck leaving Tues. night from Brooklyn to Mississippi.
> This effort is organized by local grassroots African American group called
> Black Aid. I WILL COORDINATE THIS OPTION, SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED,
> PLEASE REPLY TO THIS POSTING ASAP, and see below for further info on what
> to do.
>
> 2) Donate to the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, which includes Pride
> at Work and a number of national queer organizations, and is organizing to
> provide support and a safe place for LGBT youth who have been displaced by
> the crisis, and they are requesting funds. Go to http://www.nyacyouth.org/
> or see description below.
>
> 3) Act Now is mounting a call to Congress to hold Bush accountable for his
> administration’s failure to take adequate action. Go to
> http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=19560
>
> Let’s use our energy together to make a contribution in this demoralizing
> moment that further confirms the glaring racism and incompletence of this
> administration. Please post additional suggestions or ideas, and let us
> know how you’re doing.
>
> Hugs, Barbara
>
> ***************
> Here are further details for each of the above:
>
> 1) There will be a truck of supplies leaving for Mississippi this coming
> Tuesday night, 9/6, from Brooklyn. It has been organized by an ad-hoc
> organization called Black Aid: People to People, and it is totally
> volunteer grassroots effort mounted by New York City’s Black community.
>
> Here’s what I’m proposing: Each of us spends the next few days preparing
> as many packets as we can handle of personal items pre-sorted into kits
> for adults and children. It would be nice to include one or two “comfort”
> items that make people feel human, like a small bag of candy or a deck of
> cards.
>
> I will also be drafting and sending around by tomorrow morning for your
> feedback a personal note for those preparing packets to sign and include
> in each kit that lets people know that our hearts are with them and
> (possibly ˆ let me know how you feel about this part) that we are doing
> all we can to hold the government accountable for how they have been
> treated.
>
> All items need to be delivered to the truck in boxes. IF YOU DROP YOUR
> PREPARED KITS AT OUR HOUSE IN PARK SLOPE BY MONDAY EVENING, CYNTHIA AND I
> WILL BOX THEM AND DELIVER THEM TO THE TRUCK ON TUESDAY. IF YOU CHOOSE THIS
> OPTION, YOU MUST PHONE US AT 718-499-5336 TO SET UP A DROP-OFF TIME. If
> you want to deliver them yourselves, the truck will be loading between
> 4-7pm Tues night at Harriet Tubman Park on Fulton St. (in front of Boys
> and Girls High School). If you can’t prepare any packets, but want to
> contribute money to this effort, send a check made out to me, Barbara
> Schulman (send me an email asap with the amount),and I’ll direct it
> toward the massive shopping I will be doing on Monday.
>
> I’m pasting below two lists of suggested items, one for adults and one for
> children. I’ve asterisked those items I think should be in every adult
> packet. Think compact — each kit should fit into a standard size plastic
> grocery bag, so don’t buy the super-size box of any of these items! Feel
> free to post additional suggestions. Each packet should be labeled with
> full contents, and should indicate whether it’s for adults or children.
>
> I’m considering buy a number of large gift bags at my local 99cent store
> and tying them with ribbons to make these look shiny and new, as opposed
> to just using plastic grocery bags, so that may be something you want to
> consider.
>
> *ADULT’S KIT:
> *Toothpaste
> *Toothbrush
> *Large teeth comb or hairbrush
> *Tampons (small box)
> Sanitary pads (small bags rather than boxes)
> Tissue packets (several pocket size)
> *Shampoo
> *Soap
> *Skin cream
> *Vaseline
> *Cotton balls
> *Q-tips
> Roll-on deoderant (NOT anti-perspirant, which
> contains aluminum
> chlorhydrate and has been linked to breast cancer)
> *Disposable razors
> Nail clipper
> Emery boards
> Ear plugs (it’s going to be noisy in those
> convention centers and
> shelters)
> *Bandaids
> *Antibiotic cream (Neosporin, Bacitracin, etc.)
> *Ibuprophin or other painkiller
> *Pens
> *Small pads
> Travel alarm clock
> Small hand mirror
> Hand towel
> Collapsible drinking cup
>
> Please also consider including one of the following
> :
> Bag of candy (non-melting), gum, lifesavers or
> cookies
> Deck of cards
> Electronic game
> Crossword puzzle book
> Other items that can serve to distract or entertain
> people who will not
> have much to occupy themselves
>
> CHILDREN’S KIT (any combination of the below):
> Wet-ones
> Child’s toothbrush
> Hand towel
> Small children’s books
> Kits for making art projects, jewelry, airplanes,
> paintings, etc.
> Crayons or markers
> Pads or construction paper
> Child’s safety scissors
> Scotch tape
> Small school supplies (composition notebooks, pens,
> pencils/erasers,
> rulers, kits)
> Small stuffed animals or toys
> Girls’ costume jewelry
>
>
> *OPTION 2: Donate to help queer youth
>
> > Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:44:08 GMT
> > From: “Josh Cazares, Pride At Work Co-President”
> > To: “Barbara Schulman”
> > Subject: Barbara, Let’s Show Our Pride At Work:
> Help LGBT Youth Affected
> > By Hurricane Katrina
> >
> > Dear Barbara Schulman,
> >
> > Over the past week, we have all seen the devastation brought by
> > Hurricane Katrina to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
> > Watching from afar, it may seem like there is nothing we can do.
> > As working people, we know what the people of New Orleans are
> > facing: no food, no water, no shelter, no job, no income, no
> > health care, no anything.
> >
> > In times like these we hope the members of Pride At Work will
> > put their labor values of solidarity into action. There is so
> > much need, please take a moment and stand with your brothers and
> > sisters and give what you can.
> >
> > In particular, we’d like to highlight an opportunity you have to
> > reach out and help lesbian, gay, bisexual,and transgender youth
> > and families as they try to rebuild their lives.
> >
> > Pride At Work in collaboration with many organizations around
> > the country, would like to encourage you to give to the
> > “Hurricane Katrina LGBT Relief Fund” to ensure that LGBT youth
> > and families receive the critical support they need to regain
> > stability in their lives. Launched by the National Youth
> > Advocacy Coalition, this fund will send 100% of all funds
> > received directly to LGBT service providers on the ground in
> > Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. In particular, LGBT youth
> > need a safe and understanding place to take refuge in such
> > difficult times.
> >
> > The next few days are critical. No amount is too small to make a
> > difference. To give to the fund, please visit the link below:
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/adz3Ge61jPbA//.
> >
> > Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible to the fullest
> > extent allowed under law and will support humanitarian relief
> > for LGBTQ youth and families from the devastated areas. These
> > funds will be distributed directly to local organizations in the
> > best position to ensure strategic and high-impact disbursement
> > of the emergency funds.
> >
> > As a first step, on September 6th the Houston Area Teen
> > Coalition of Homosexuals (H.A.T.C.H.) and Montrose Counseling
> > Center will host one of a series of special support groups for
> > the refugees to help them manage their stress, grief, and fear.
> > NYAC will be shifting our own resources to be there on the
> > ground to offer support and assistance to local organizers.
> >
> > We will get through this together.
> >
> > Partner Organizations:
> >
> > Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/1dz3Ge61jPgC//
> >
> > Equality Federation
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/1pz3Ge61jPbq//
> >
> > Family Pride Coalition
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/17z3Ge61jPb1/
> >
> > Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/qdz3Ge61jPbz//
> >
> > National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
> > Community Centers (NALGBTCC)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/q1z3Ge61jPba//
> >
> > National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/q7z3Ge61jPbS//
> >
> > National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/a1z3Ge61jPb_//
> >
> > National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/qpz3Ge61jPbL//
> >
> > National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/adz3Ge61jPbA/
> >
> > Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
> > http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/a7z3Ge61jPbM/
> >
> >
>
> Barbara Schulman
> New York City Human Rights Initiative
> c/o Urban Justice Center Human Rights Project
> 646-602-5629
> schulmanb@gmail.com
>