Act Locally

[pameladean]

Minnesota will be receiving three to five thousand of the people forced from their homes by Katrina. Below are two somewhat random links; I didn't link to anything that requires registration.

The hotline in the first story was only active over the holiday weekend, so it's a bit difficult to figure out how to donate the things these people need. Apparently one can call the United Way and ask. The main thing that gets mentioned over and over again is, unsurprisingly, winter clothes. I keep feeling that it's adding insult to injury to transport people from the urban south to the rural north at the beginning of autumn. If the opposite had happened to me, it might be the last straw. I don't mean Minnesota isn't doing the right thing, just that sometimes the right thing is only as right as one can get and not as right as it should be.

Anyway, I'm off to rummage in the closet and then probably take a bunch of stuff to the dry cleaner's. We're still a few weeks away from frost.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=106151

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/12571989.htm


I hope to get back to grousing about writing and cooing over cats and birds and leaves soon.

P.

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Philadelphia announced its hospitality to Katrina evacuees a day or so before getting its act together about how to help. Keep watching your paper.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

P.S.--I just posted something from our African American Chamber of Commerce to southwest_center_city@yahoogroups.com, which I think is listed publicly. The big item right now is new or very gently used stuff for kids, to help build or safeguard their self-esteem.

[pameladean]

Thanks.

I've got some stuffed animals that haven't been used at all. I'll see what else there is. For older kids, actually, I've got some books.

P.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

"For older kids, actually, I've got some books."

Yeah, I bet you do.

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

Not to be flip about it, but I've noticed good things sometimes come from groups of refugees who settle in Minnesota. Look at all of the wonderful Vietnamese restaurants which resulted from the influx of the Hmongs. I do not mean this as a joke, not in the least.

[pameladean]

Well, yeah, that'd be great for us, but still not so hot for them.
On the whole, I'd prefer fewer culinary choices and an intact New Orleans.

I gather that in addition to the unexpected survivors of Katrina, we are also getting another 5000 Hmong refugees.

P.

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

I meant just as a f'rexample.

[pameladean]

I know; it just seemed out of scale, somehow.

Mixing up populations outside of a war is a good thing, but I can't really think that far ahead yet.

P.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

At the G, the wardrobe mistress has organized a supply drive to benefit a shelter in Baton Rouge. Everything is being shipped tomorrow. The artistic director has offered to pay the shipping costs.

Cindy

[koloagirl.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of warm hospitality up here in MN, which hopefully will make up for the colder temperatures. There's been a lot of discussion on MPR radio about how to get involved with helping the evacuees headed this direction. And apparently the crack team at the Fort that will be the central reception location for people headed our direction has expanded its kitchen menu to include Southern standards.

[pameladean]

Aw, that's awfully sweet of them. I hope that even if they don't really get the food right, the thought is helpful.

I can't stand radio or television coverage of most things, but I'll check the MPR website for info; thanks.

P.