re: Charity/Aid Thread: Where you can volunteer, donate, etc.

From my daughter Jenn Mayers on Facebook:


Someone once told me that people don’t purchase for ‘a cause’.

That people are self-centered and only buy if it benefits them.

But I was raised in Louisiana.

Where we are taught that it is noble to help someone in need.

Where donating your time, your money, your food, your open heart, or whatever you are able to is the true sign of success.

Last weekend, my hometown of Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas went under water. The biggest flood in over 100 years.

Thousands have been misplaced and need our help now.

As I sat in a condo in Florida over the weekend with some of my family, scrolling through Facebook, my heart broke over and over again as I watched my friends and family post pictures and videos of their homes being taken over by water.

God knows how much I wish I was there to help.

But for some reason I wasn’t.

For some reason I was supposed to feel helpless sitting there crying my eyes out begging for a way to help.

I opened up my laptop and saw the cover of a book I had been writing. A book that was just for me - no intention of publishing, especially not any time soon.

That's when it came to me.

I may not be able to be with my friends and family in Louisiana right now, but I sure as heck can get off my butt, publish this book as fast as possible, and pray that people buy it so I can donate to help those who need the money more than I do right now.

So, for the next three days, every book sale (minus Amazon’s cut) will be donated to flood relief efforts.

It’s called “Dear Courageous Heart” and it’s a collection of letters, poems, and verses I’ve written that have helped me and my clients through challenging times. It is a source of inspiration, of liberation — a much needed message right now in today’s world. Wouldn't you agree?

My wish is that we sell 1,000 copies.

This will help raise just under $7,000, which is far more than I could donate on my own.

It will cost you less than a Starbucks coffee and a scone.

Can I count you in?

The more copies we sell, the more people we help.

You can get your copy and help the relief efforts by clicking the link below in this post.

If you believe in giving to others…

If you believe that it is noble to help those truly in need…

If you believe that people DO want to support a cause and help each other…

Please buy this book now:
LINK

The people you help may never be able to repay you, but they will be forever grateful for you.

All Love,
Jenn

Donate now, buy the book, share this post.
LINK

Who knows, if we get enough people donating and sharing this post maybe Amazon.com will step up and donate too.

WAFB
WBRZ Channel 2
CNN
ABC News
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NBC News
CBS News
Starbucks
Good Morning America
Ellen DeGeneres

?#?BRstrong?
?#?LousianaStrong?
?#?GreatFloodof2016?
?#?lettheloveovercome?

Central now has a website where you can sign up to volunteer. Categories include: debris removal, demolition, construction, shelters, supply distribution, and donation organization. They seem organized. LINK

Anyone know who I should donate through in Atlanta. I've heard bad things about goodwill but a group of my friends have gotten together and have about 20 bags of clothes ranging from girls Medium to women's L and men's S to XXL. Pants as well. Thanks

Also for those looking to help physically

MUDOUT TRAINING FOR HOME OWNERS & VOLUNTEERS

August 20
Istrouma, Baton Rouge
7am – 9am
Steve Masters – College Students

August 20
Istrouma, Baton Rouge
8am – 11am
Charles Watson

August 23
FBC Jennings
6:30pm
Alan Knuckles

Couldn't get a sticky so here.

LINK

How does one donate from out of state?

This is happening Saturday. I'm sure they could use a hand.



I know the BR food bank is also asking for donations and volunteers. Most of their food was lost.

Blake Dean has offered up the UNO baseball team to come clean out a house...

since LSU baseball has cleaned out a house, what about some of the other non-football teams?

Do you know of a good organization to donate money to? We're in the middle of trying to handle a lot of the claims. More on that in a minute. I have some items that are selling on eBay between $15k - $30k. If you're not familiar with eBay it you can donate proceeds to the organization of your choice. There's only a handful listed on there in 250 miles of Baton Rouge and nothing dedicated towards helping with flood relief. I'm going to try and add one if I can find an organization that will directly help flood relief and just help fund a non profit that is in Maryland.

Now the reason for my rant


My wife is in the middle of all this. They're getting push back from FEMA is what she said. At this point they're not wanting to give out money to properties under the Louisiana Housing Authority, which ALL are at least partially funded by the Federal Government. How many people do you think live in subsidized housing in sout La? FEMA is saying everything has to go out for bid. As a contractor myself, I'd be very surprised if that process took 6 months or less. That's not how things are handled the it's declared a natural disaster by the Feds. Tenants at one subsidized complex that was completely flooded, showed up at the manager of the property's HOUSE looking for a place to stay. Some people were just dropped off there.

Do you remember Kanye West's comment shortly after Katrina that George Bush hated black people? Obama must hate them worse. A week after Katrina I was what was the Bell South tower on Poydras doing no bid work. Less than a month later, we were building a 700 unit FEMA trailer park in Baker La. That's how it used to work. Please vote to help get the Democrats out of office!