Hurricane Katrina: should CBR as a community do something to help?

[Buried Alien]

We've seen the misery that Hurricane Katrina has caused for the unfortunate people of the Gulf Coast states. I'm sure many of our members have already taken steps to help out in whatever way they can.

Does anyone have any ideas on things we can do collectively to help the victims of the storm?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[BlairH]

Is there any way to set up a paypal type donation system?

[Buried Alien]

There probably is, but I'm no expert there. Anybody have experience with that kind of arrangement?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Tom]

I can't remember the details but wasn't there some sort of charity-based thingamabob here on the Comm Board a couple years back and the poster in charge absconded with the money? I seem to recall howy mentioning something about it.

I think it's best to just encourage individual posters to donate to the Red Cross and other organizations rather than try and set something up here.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I already donated half my paycheck to the Red Cross this morning.

[Dreadstar]

I can't remember the details but wasn't there some sort of charity-based thingamabob here on the Comm Board a couple years back and the poster in charge absconded with the money? I seem to recall howy mentioning something about it.

I think it's best to just encourage individual posters to donate to the Red Cross and other organizations rather than try and set something up here.

I do believe that is correct.

[StoneGold]

http://www.redcross.org/

[Justin D.]

I know that many blogs are donating money to Red Cross in amounts of $100.01, $50.01, $20.01 and so on. Basically, the $.01 represents the blog community's part in donating.

Currently, we have 11,787 members. If we can get a third of them to donate $5 each, that's almost $20,000 dollars. I can probably help arrange it so that a payment goes through to a specific Coastal Red Cross center. However, Red Cross has a special Hurricane Katrina relief fund (https://secure2.convio.net/arc/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1141) set up already for anyone who wants to donate it. A simple anonymous donation is just as good as a group effort sometimes. Putting this thread up as a sticky on all boards asking everyone to put up how much they donate so we can add it all up later might not also be a bad idea. The only other thing I can even think of is a direct deposit into someone's personal bank account through Paypal and then one mass donation in CBR's name.

[Buried Alien]

IPutting this thread up as a sticky on all boards asking everyone to put up how much they donate so we can add it all up later might not also be a bad idea.

I'm on it, Justin.

You take care out there. Best wishes to your family.



Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Dreadstar]

Putting this thread up as a sticky on all boards asking everyone to put up how much they donate so we can add it all up later might not also be a bad idea.

Justin, your heart's in a great place, and I know you're a lot closer to the situation than I can imagine, but no thanks.

How much or even *if* I donated is my business and mine alone.

The only other thing I can even think of is a direct deposit into someone's personal bank account through Paypal and then one mass donation in CBR's name.

I don't know who I'd trust, really.

[Tom]

I have to agree with Dread. Unless we can figure out a way to get a third party to collect the money, I really don't think this is a good idea and could in fact leave Jonah liable.