HURRICANE
KATRINA VICTIMS NEED OUR HELPSeptember 5, 2005
There are already numerous victims of Hurricane Katrina that have arrived
in the greater Memphis area. Many of us want to help, but don't know how to
engage.
Donations and volunteers are desperately needed, and it is our hope at
Dharma Memphis, that we can provide some information that can assist in
bringing together those who want to help, and those who need it.
You are encouraged to contact these organizations directly if you wish to
volunteer or donate. If you have items that you wish to drop off, we are
making available several places that will take and deliver donations. For
information on drop off points or any additional information you can
contact:
elizabeth.owens@stjude.org,
chobi03@netzero.net, or
webmaster@dharmamemphis.com.
Families are arriving at First Congregational Church, Germantown Baptisit
Church, and we will keep you posted as more information comes in.
Items needed include such things as non-perishable foods, medical
supplies, towels, deodorant, tooth brushes and toothpaste, paper plates, and
plastic utensils.
There is also a online forum (volunteer
board) available for those who are interested in volunteering or making
a donation of any kind, where you post your information so that you be
matched with a corresponding need. In addition if you belong to an
organization that is currently assisting those effected by Hurricane
Katrina, there is another online forum
(organizations board)where you are
welcomed to post your information there so that your group or organization
may be matched with a corresponding person or persons wishing to help.
If you would like to donate a toothbrush, or other small items and would
like to drop them off with one of the Dharma Memphis groups, you could drop
them by Dharma Sunday,
Magnolia Sangha on the
designated days that we meet. Again, if you would like to find out when and
where you can drop off your items, please contact one of the people listed
above and below and they will coordinate with you.
Below is a letter sent to the Dharma Memphis group on Monday 8/5/05.
Dear Friends,
Yesterday some of us from our Sunday meditation group collected some
donation items and went over to First Congregational, where we met with
Mission Director Julia Hicks. We discovered that at present First Congo has
three Katrina affected families, and they suspect that they will get
several more. Given the fact that organizations all over the city are in
need of donations and volunteer assistance, we asked Julia Hicks to email
our list group if the need arose. That way those of us who wish to respond
individually can do so. We shall continue to contact some other
organizations in order to get ideas of their specific needs. We have also
contacted the local Humane Society animals from the affected areas have
begun to arrive in substantial numbers (30 are arriving this evening) and
they are in need of dog and cat food, cat litter, and crates if any are
lying around.
The e-mail to First Congo is copied below, and this email can be copied and
sent to all local organizations that would like to make their needs known to
our group. Please feel free to pass this email along.
Dear Julia,
I am writing to let you know of our Dharma Memphis web address. As we
mentioned to you yesterday, there are 153 members on our e-list and if you
have any need of volunteers or other assistance with Katrina victims, you
can send out a general email to our list group so that those who wish to
respond can thereby do so.
The group email address is: DharmaMemphis@yahoogroups.com
The web address is: dharmamemphis.yahoogroups.com.
Dharma Memphis
Hurricane Katrina as been devastating to humans & the animals that they
love! All area shelters and rescues are
flooded and there are thousands of animals that have been displaced. There
are many animal emergency disaster teams already in place, and some are
already here in our area. Please visit the
Memphis
Shelby County Humane Society, as they are in need of dog and cat food,
cat litter, carriers and crates, and more. Also the call has gone out for
the immediate need for foster home. There has been news recently that a
substantial influx of pets have been delivered to the West Memphis shelter.
Please consider your help for these furry friends that are separated from
their loved ones. See:
http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/AR31.html
excerpt from their site:
Friday, September 9, 2005
28 Dogs and a Miniature Pony From LA Arrive at the West Memphis Animal
Shelter
Arkansans for Animals, has been working nonstop in LA. They are rescuing and
vetting animals around the clock. They sent these animals here to be placed
in temporary care until they could be reuinted with their owners.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Monica Lazar with Four Paws Ranch in Eads, TN, along with volunteers, and
Dr. Isis Johnson from Tupelo, MS brought back 6 dogs from Waveland, MS. They
arrived in Waveland with much needed supplies for humans and animals on
Friday night. They helped treat injured animals and took the 5 animals that
owners surrendered. They found the owner of the 6th dog and will temporarily
house it until the owner can be reuinted with it.
Memphis and Shelby County schools are giving school supplies to the
children enrolling in the schools here. They have set up a drop off point
for those wishing to donate school supply items............ (
more )
Also, please be aware that these people will continue to be
stranded here and around the country for many months ahead. They will have
additional needs as fall and winter arrive. Please consider supporting these
individuals and families for the months ahead.
Once again, for additional information, questions or
suggestions please feel free to contact:
elizabeth.owens@stjude.org,
chobi03@netzero.net, or
webmaster@dharmamemphis.com.
Namaste,
Dharma Memphis
