Storm victims praise churches - want federal not local government to control rebuilding funds

Washington Times ^ | December 2, 2005 | Audrey Hudson

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Louisiana residents gave churches higher marks than government agencies in responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and most prefer that the federal government control rebuilding funds rather than local officials, according to a Louisiana State University study.

On a scale of one (not effective) to 10 (very effective), residents gave churches the highest mark of 8.1, and New Orleans city agencies and state agencies received the lowest rating of 4.6.

"Louisiana residents were not particularly charitable when it came to evaluating government response ... but were considerably more favorable of the efforts of faith-based organizations and nonprofits, including local community foundations and the Red Cross," according to the study.

Hundreds of churches and synagogues stepped up to help when municipal, state and federal governments faltered in their early responses to the devastation wrought by the hurricanes. They fed, clothed and sheltered survivors and raised more than $100 million to do so.

...... The majority of Louisianans, 54 percent, said the federal government should pick up the tab for rebuilding, and a 40 percent plurality said they trusted the federal government to have primary control over how funds are spent.

Only 23 percent said local governments should control the purse strings, and 27 percent favored the state as the watchdog.

[Roux]

Spent a day at God's Katrina Kitchen in Pass Christian Ms just before Thanksgiving. We fed about 1000 that day for lunch. It was very rewarding. There were people from all over the country.

I'm still sore from moving 50lb sacks of rice, beans, sugar, etc....

[conservatrice]

That sounds great! Were the people in good spirits? I know that Thanksgiving wasn't even mentioned when I was down there... and that was less than a week before Thanksgiving. It just wasn't on their radar (although I had heard some groups were coming to do T-day dinners for people, which was encouraging). I wish I could go back.