Ask your employer to match employee contributions to Red Cross Relief

visit my newly started blog!!!

No.

;-)

Apologies for naming Red Cross

Aw, don't worry. Everyone here will always be happy to refresh your memory.....LOL

It's the thought that counts. I'm sure we here at FR will do our part. We always do!

When the going gets tough FReepers get going! It's what we do!

My employer just did. I just got the email! I will be making a substantial contribution.

General Motors is matching employee contributions up to $250,000, and has donated $400,000 in cash and several vehicles to assist.

Here is ROUGH copy of Bush's speech...including suggestions for relief

TV Channel 37 Wed Aug 31 14:07:37 2005
recovery operations on the first day, and winds in excess of 60 knots, sometimes 80-knot gusts. Since that time we've been conducting around the clock recovery operations and the aircraft has grown up to 26 coast guard aircraft, responding to rescue efforts as well as numerous other military operations. John: We're looking at one of your guys on the roof top, wearing looks like rescue clothing, suited for the hot temperatures there. We've seen them banging holes in roofs and pulling people out. Is this what these -- what your guys are trained to do? Is this a normal operation?
>> I wouldn't call it a normal operation, john, but this is what we're trained to dO. Those are rescue swimmers. Every helicopter has a rescue swimmer onboard. And they greatly assist the air crew in some of these hoists. As you can tell, some of the hoists are people stuck in trees or inside of houses where they have to break through the roof. That's how we use those rescue swimmers. You had ask the number of people saved. We just tallied up the total, within the first 48 hours of katrina, the coast guard has saved over 1,500 lives with rescue helicopters. John: Commander, the other thing we see coast guard helicopters, we see other helicopters. There are more crews in there than just the coast guard. I know you're coast guard commander. Who else is around helping out?

>> Yes, sir, within the last 24 hours we have had crews from the marines and the navy and the air force, the army, and the air guard all wanting to help out in the recovery operations. John: Is there a point at which you stop -- do you have any idea when 24 is ending, when you've plucked everybody out of there who needs your help?

>> We're going to continue until everybody, we can recover is recovered, sir. Around the clock operations for the air statioN. And we'll continue to do so, with every one of our helicopters and every one of our crews. John: Who is the tricky business can you explain what they're doing, what the hazards are of these operations?

>> Well, the hoist is a demanding evolution, especially during the first day when we were encountering tropical-force winds after the hurricane passed over. The aircraft was getting buffeted around, trying to rescue people from rooftops and trees. As the next day, with the temperatures approaching 100, the aircraft we're hoisting, using a lot of power to pick up people, the cabins were getting full of survivors. Hoisting is a risky evolution. But our guys and girls have been doing a tremendous job. John: Commander, where are you taking these survivors?

>> It depends, sir. The first day, i was out there for six hours, and we transported sometimes people to a high school in bell chase that had been cleared with the football field. We noticed an ambulance down there. As hours progressed, we noticed hospitals were starting to get their generators online, we started bringing them to hospitals. John: Commander, we have to go to the commander in chief in the rose garden at the white house. President bush is at the lectern this is a fox news alert, ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states.

>> The secretary is involved, on the latest develop minutes in louisiana, mississippi and alabama. As we flew here today, i also asked the pilot to fly over the gulf coast region so i could see first hand the scope and magnitude of the devastation. The vast majority of norps, louisiana is under water. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses in new orleans are beyond repair. A lot of the mississippi gulf coast has been completely destroyed. Mobile is flooded. We are dealing with one of the worked the natural disasters in our nation's history. And that's why i've called the cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response. I have directed secre ?????????????? Our first priority is to save lives. We're assisting local officials in new orleans in evacuating any remaining citizens from the affected area. I want to thank the state of texas, and particularly harris county and the city of houston and officials with the houston astrodome for providing shelter to those citizens who found re fung in the superdome in louisiana. Lus buses are on the way to take those people from new orleans to houston. Fema has deployed teams from across the country to help those in the affected areas. Fema is deploying more than 25 urban search and rescue teams, more than 1,000 personnel to help save as many lives as possible. The united states coast guard is conducting search and rescue missions. They're working alongside local officials, local assets. The coast guard has rescued nearly 2,000 people to date. The department of defense is deploying major assets to the region. These include the uss baton to conduct search and rescue missions. Eight swift water rescue teams. The iwo jima amphibious readiness group to help with disaster response equipment. And the hospital ship usns comfort to provide medical care. The national guard is nearly 11,000 guards moen state active duty to assist governors and local officials with security and disaster response efforts. Fema and the army corps of engineers are working around the clock with louisiana officials to repair the breaches in the levees so we can stop the flooding in new orleans. Our second priority is to sustain lives, adequate food, shelter and water for survivors and dedicated citizens -- dislocated citizens. Fema is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest-hit areas. The department of transportation has provided more than 400 trucks to move 1,000 truckloads containing 5.4 million meals ready to eat, m.R.E.'S, 13.4 million liters of water, 10,400 tarps, 3.4 million pounds of ice 144 generators, 20 containers of pre-positioned disaster supplies 135,000 blankets and 11,000 cots. And we're just starting. There are more than 78,000 people in shelters now. Hhs and cdc are working with local officials to identify operating hospital facilities. So we can help them, help the nurses and doctors provide necessary medical care. They're distributing medical supplies and they're executing a public health plan to control disease and other health-related issue that is might arise. Our third priority is executing a comprehensive recovery effort. We are focusing on restoreing power and lines of communication that have been knocked out during the storm. We will be repairing other roads and brings and other means of transportation as quickly as possible. There's a lot of work we're going to have to do. And my flyover, i saw a lot of destruction on major infrastructure. Repairing the infrastructure is going to be a key priority. The department of energy is approving loans from the strategic petroleum reserve to limit ris dupttions in crude supplies for refineries. A lot of crude production has been shut down because of the storm. I instructed secretary bodman to work with the refiners, people who need crude oil, to alleviate any shortage through loans. The environmental protection agency has granted a nationwide waiver for fuel blends to make more gasoline and diesel fuel available throughout the country. This will help take some pressure off of gas prices. But our citizens must understand the storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline. We're also developing a comprehensive plan to immediately help displaced citizens. This will include housing and education and health care and other essential needs. I've directed the folks in my cabinet to work with local folks local officials, to develop a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the communities affected. And there's going to be a lot of rebuilding done. I can't tell you how devastateing the sites were. I want to thank the communities in surrounding states that welcomed their neighbors during an hour of need. A lot of folks left the affected areas and found refuge with a relative or a friend. And I appreciate you doing that. I also want to thank the american red cross and the salvation army and the catholic charities and all other members of the armies of compassion. I think the folks in the affected areas will be overwhelmed when they realize how many americans want to help them. At this stage in the recovery efforts, it's important for those who want to contribute to contribute cash. Distribute cash to a charity of our choice, but make sure you designate that gift for hurricane relief. You can call 800-help-now or get on the red cross web page, redcross.Org. The red cross needs our help. And i urge our fellow citizens to contribute. The folks on the gulf coast need to help from this country for a long time. This is going to be a difficult road. The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there's no doubt in my mind we'll succeed. Right now, the days seem awfully dark for those affected, i understand that. But i'm confident that with time you get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of new orleans will be back on its feet, and america will be a stronger place for it. The country stands with yoU. We'll do all in our power to help you. May god bless yoU. Thank you.

Give to the Red Cross - NO!

Those bachelor's children were charging for donuts after Andrew.

Salvation Army is a good organization, as are many of the religious charities.

I was on the Atlantic City boardwalk yesterday where RC volunteers were holding out their buckets. I stared them in the eye and just kept on walking....

I've seen a lot of Salvation Army endorsements; anyone got a complaint before I send a check?

Probably because charity giving is voluntary. Taxes are not.

Me too. I'm wondering what the company I work for is waiting for. They still have not announced they will match gifts. They did for 9-11 and the tsunami and I don't recall it taking so long. FGS, the tsunami happened during the holidays!

There is a lot of graft and corruption with The American Red Cross. I worked on several assignments in their NYC headquarters on 10th Avenue. I looked at the books...

I've seen a lot of Salvation Army endorsements; anyone got a complaint before I send a check?

Never heard complaints about the work they do and how they spend the money given. Their mission is to help the less fortunate ones in society. Only the left has a problem with them, because of the religious nature of the organization. In my mind, that should be a ringing endorsement of them, because the left really is the enemy of a decent society.

Hmmm, I've never heard of additional taxes being refused. I know that various mechanisms have been established to receive monies from those not feeling taxed enough.

But my point is; I won't be giving to charities as long as their efforts are duplicated by my tax monies. One I'm will ing to do, but not both.

EXACTLY! And for chrissakes never, EVER give to the INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS!

"I just wrote a large check to the Red Cross today"

Seems you are about the only on this thread that trusts the Red Cross...

It's curious that you find it necessary to share your goodheartedness with us.

That is your prerogative.

(I'll ask 'em to match to the Salvation Army, if that's OK.)

My wife and I will use the Salvation Army, I once checked the amount they give and found that they gave 80% of charitable income and used 20% for bureaucracy and she called today and was told that the Salvation Army will use 100 percent for the victims!
On the other hand, the Red Cross and others consistently use over 80% for bureaucracy and give just 20% of charitable income to the people who are in need(some say they give less and the checkered history of the Red Cross and the United Way both are enough to make us not trust them.

I'm in the same boat...my company is owned by a nationally known company and I have yet to hear a word. Now a colleague today shared an email from her husband's employer who is busy with on the ground efforts for their employees in the area. They are renting apartments and houses for their displaced. I was very impressed. I hope I hear more and more of this.

We put our trust in Salvation Army and for the first time, also Operation Blessing (hope the money actually goes to victims of Katrina- they said it will).

Thank you for posting the list of charities. I'm sure people will find it useful.

I remember 9/11 and the Red Cross. It seems like they donated most of the money to themselves. I will donate to the Salvation Army for people and Noah's Wish for animals.

I remember coming home one night for dinner and mentioning at the dinner table that we were asked at work to donate to the Red Cross. My father went ballistic! He served in WWI and remembered the Red Cross and their dirty dealings.