Katrina Cash Crisis Continues
It's now months after the American Gulf Coast was devastated. Billions have been spent in relief, but billions more are needed. Such is the scope of a storm that ranks among the most severe in modern North American history.
To this day, residents' lives are still wrecked. Vital services are still wanting. Homes and businesses remain unrepaired. The effort to do so is not lacking; far from it. The hard fact is that the resources available are still spread too thin.
Recently, the Washington Post conducted a survey to determine an accounting of the charitable aid that has been provided to date. The results are impressive, showing this to be the largest donation drive in American history. Almost $3billion has been raised and approximately $2billion of that amount has already been disbursed.
It's a mind-jolt to grasp the concept that, even with a record level of heartfelt giving, only a dent has been made in improving lives there and that the remaining $1billion will be impossibly stretched in order to have any overall impact. Very little has apparently slipped into administrative hubris. Virtually all monies, says the Post, have gone toward cash, food and temporary shelter, medical care, tarps for damaged homes and school supplies for displaced children.
Here are other facts which were determined by the Post's survey:
The Red Cross , which was criticized for slow distribution of donations after the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has given out 84 percent of its Katrina and Rita donations.
Fifty cents of each donated dollar went out in cash to victims.
Six percent of contributions came in the form of supplies - building materials, food, water, clothing, heavy equipment - contributed mostly by corporations.
Fifty-six percent of remaining donations are controlled by faith-based organizations. They include such well-known institutions as Catholic Charities USA and the Salvation Army but also lower-profile groups like the United Methodist Committee on Relief and United Jewish Communities.
It's estimated that the American government will need to spend a minimum of $200billion, simply to rebuild infrastructure and re-establish basic services in the region. There will be budgets for housing grants, low-income food support and medical care, but longstanding parameters on those programs will still leave many hurricane victims out in the cold. Literally.
Some of the Gulf states, such as Mississippi and Louisiana, were far from the richest in the USA before the disaster struck. Now, with much of their tax base blown away, their resources are hardly sufficient to cope with anything more than the most urgent requirements.
Americans should take great pride in going to amazing lengths to look after their own. That those being assisted are doing all they can to become self-sustaining again makes the act of donation feel even more rewarding.
It is still time to experience that feeling. There are many causes in life, but this one is about providing fundamental needs to people who are aching to provide for themselves. If you're visiting the Longer Life site, don't make those Red Cross boxes on each page fade into your background. Once a month, or more if you can, use them. When you're out on the town, instead of ordering an extra round of beer, wine or spirits, re-direct that amount to the Katrina relief fund. When you're in the store, instead of purchasing an extra snack item, re-direct that amount to the Katrina relief fund.
Those proceeds will be used for so much more by people who are grateful to receive because they have no other choice.
It's still difficult to comprehend that a few dollars can do so much good when billions are needed, but we can never 'massify' the human condition in the Gulf states or anywhere else. The few dollars you give will help one person, or one family, who will then be allowed a welcome moment of respite for at least another day.
To them, your donation would seem like a million dollars. Maybe even a billion.
Copyright 2006 - The Longer Life Group
J Square Humboldt is the featured columnist at the Longer Life website, which is dedicated to providing information, strategies, analysis and commentary designed to improve the quality of living. His page can be found at http://longerlifegroup.com/cyberiter.html and his observations are published three times per week.
Related Tags: hurricane katrina, hurricane relief fund, disaster relief, red cross, catholic charities usa, united jewish communities, united methodist committee on
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Automotive Articles - Car Donation: Tax Write-Off Exposed For Boat Things You May Want To Know
Car donation tax deduction underlying gem: Although there are tons of factors to consider when disp - Business Articles - How To Donate Your Car To A Charity
Did you know that 42% of homeless children are less than eight years old? Such a large number is ter - Art and Culture Articles - South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
Everyone's favorite slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," certainly applies to this unique and funky museum. - Current Affairs, World Fair Trade Day 09
World Fair Trade Day World Fair Trade Day, 9 May 2009, is an international celebration of Fa - Entertainment, Austin City Limits: Where the Music World Comes Together
Every year, during the sweltering late summer months, bands from across the country converge on - Health, The Science of Support:
Darlene E. and James "Jim" B. (1969 B.S., 1972 M.A., 1974 Ph.D.) McCord believe in the power of - Non-Profit Organizations, Charity begins when you forget about yourself
It is strange the way a selfless act can bring more rewards than a carefully constructed and s - Current Affairs, ADOPTION FACTS DEMAND INFANT ADOPTION REFORMATION
There are some facts about adoption that, really, you cannot dispute unless you are just tryin - Travel & Tourism, The Grammy Awards celebrates 50 years of musical excellence
The Grammy Awards (originally known as the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the Na - Unusual Fundraising Ideas
Need some new fundraising ideas? When your organization or group needs to raise money for a trip or
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Fundraising with Bricks Made Easy!
Fundraising with Bricks can be an easy way to raise needed funds for churches, schools, sports teams - Generations of Adam
Description: Generations of Adam describes the calendar treasures known to Adam and the Antediluvian - The Two-fold Benefit of Charity Credit Cards
Charity credit cards offer you an alternative way to generously donate money to various causes: caus - Bigmouthmedia teams up with Sport Relief again
Bigmouthmedia, the leading full search agency, has been selected to drive search engine traffic to - Unusual Fundraising Ideas
Need some new fundraising ideas? When your organization or group needs to raise money for a trip or - Business Articles - How To Donate Your Car To A Charity
Did you know that 42% of homeless children are less than eight years old? Such a large number is ter - Art and Culture Articles - South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
Everyone's favorite slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," certainly applies to this unique and funky museum. - Current Affairs, World Fair Trade Day 09
World Fair Trade Day World Fair Trade Day, 9 May 2009, is an international celebration of Fa - Entertainment, Austin City Limits: Where the Music World Comes Together
Every year, during the sweltering late summer months, bands from across the country converge on - Health, The Science of Support:
Darlene E. and James "Jim" B. (1969 B.S., 1972 M.A., 1974 Ph.D.) McCord believe in the power of