Katrina
My youngest sister attends Tulane, in New Orleans. She has an apartment there. Her close friend (and a friend of our family's in general) just moved down there as well. My mother, my sister, her friend, and her friend's sister just went down there this past week to help with moving and getting set up for the year.
Bad timing.
After a nightmarish 14 hour pilgrimage across largely darkened highways, they have managed finally to find refuge in Alabama, in the house of a friend of another one of my sisters. Talking to my mom today on the phone, she was clearly shaken by what she had seen and experienced over the past few days, but she said also that she had once again been reminded that there are people on this earth who act as the Lord's angels, doing his work in times of great need.
I also received word today, via his brother-in-law, of a friend who is still in the midst of things. If I know him, he is acting as one of those angels. He recently started full active duty as a chaplain in the U. S. Navy, attached to a Seabee unit in Gulfport, Mississippi. The guy is a man of great heart, high spirit, endless energy...I can think of no person I know personally who is better suited to be doing what he is doing right now, where he is doing it. He only recently went on duty down there. For the 700+ refugees in his shelter, plus all the Navy engineers stationed with him, I imagine it is wonderful timing.
My mom is flying back here to the Philadelphia area with one of the girls tomorrow. My sister and her friend have a car and a dog with them, so will probably try driving back. I don't worry for their safety, but I do want them all closer to their friends and relatives here. They lost a lot of stuff, along with at least months of their various life's plans. Many others, though, have lost more. I'm doing and will do what I can to get them back here and help them recover emotionally. For the others, for the strangers, for the ones who have lost far worse, and for those who are themselves still lost out there, I'm providing financial support to their rescuers.
My wife and I had a very quick conversation, and we have now given cash to the Salvation Army (my all-time favorite disaster-relief charity, largely because it is one of the most efficient and effective organizations in the field) and also to the American Red Cross. If you haven't already, you might want to think about doing something similar. You will never regret it.
I listen fairly regularly to national talk-show host Glenn Beck. He has pulled out all the stops on his show in a way I've come to expect from him. I'm proud to have him based out of Philly, here, as he has demonstrated a history of using his very large listening audience to support some great charities over the years.
For people inside the Philadelphia area, I understand he is organizing a local event to send relief-aid supplies to the affected region. On the national level, he is involved in a number of efforts, including an online auction supporting the Red Cross. Tune in to his program tomorrow (Thursday) morning, or check his website for more information afterwards.
Finally, for those in the Philadelphia suburbs looking to give or receive help of a more spiritual nature, it looks as if the Bryn Athyn Cathedral is (probably—check their website) once again going to open its doors for a special evening prayer service, probably this Sunday night. Those of many faiths who came to this New Christian (Swedenborgian) house of worship following the Tsunami and September 11 crises remember it as a special and beautiful place of healing and community. I'll be there, unless I'm in Alabama helping my sister and her friend get home that night.
For more information:
Also, be sure to check out the Hugh Hewitt-suggested Hurricane Katrina Flood-Aid Blogburst at Instapundit.com and TruthLaidBear.com for more ways you can be an angel.
UPDATE (Sep. 1): You should also definitely head over to Strengthen the Good, where they are running an interesting "matching donations" program. I've already made my donations, so I'm afraid I can't offer additional matching funds this time, but it's an excellent idea that many other bloggers are participating in right now.
[Technorati: flood aid, hurricane katrina]