Diamond Dave here, throwing in his two cents worth.

My wife works at Georgia Tech at night. She was witness to some of the relief efforts going on there for the storm refugees from La/Miss. Some of the things she heard and saw concerning these efforts upset her greatly. Here is a copy of the email she sent me, which she also sent to various news organizations:

There were several busses full of survivors from Louisiana brought to Georgia Tech tonight. As the first bus load arrived, there was an owner from a local restaurant there with enough hot meals for everyone. He was turned away and told that the Red Cross had enough rations, and he'd be better off selling the meals and sending the cash instead. This was told to others as they brought truckloads of diapers, clothes, toiletries, blankets, compassion, understanding and love. Those that offered to open their homes to them were told to put their names on a list until they could screen the people to see who could be trusted with other people.

These people have nothing and they're being treated like criminal cattle. They have to wear bright orange wrist bands so they can be identified as those who belong with the refugees. I can understand that, but these are not foreigners. These are people like most of us, only they have traveled away from their homes because they have no home anymore. These people are lucky to have what family they do, they haven't had warm, decent food in a while, and they don't have change of clothes, very little to no money, and they have to start over again - no matter what age they are. There is plenty of room in the basketball coliseum for them to "store" donated items. A locker room will suffice if nothing else. There were volunteeers who could organize and distribute needed items. I don't know who's in charge, but they are not very organized at all. When the people first went to Texas, people were asked to send care packages with a packing list enclosed - so that the items could be put away and given to those in need.

The Red Cross was founded on compassion, understanding, and love for the fellow man. These people who are supposed to be giving compassion just are not. To tell a community in a major city that they do not rally to help those in need, and then to turn them away, tell them to have yard sales and then donate the money just does not seem right. There has got to be a better way to help these people in need. TheyÂ’re not in want, they are in basic need of simple things.

I hope that everyone who tried to help last night and were turned away did not go away mad, and will not give up trying to help others. Something must be said, and done to make it better for these humans to get what they
need; compassion, understanding, and love. Even Christ forgave a whore.

Posted by: Diamond Dave at 08:23 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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