The Houston Plan to help Katrina Evacuees

 

September 10, 2005

 

How Would You Like To Give Out Katrina Relief Aid!

 

You can empower and encourage some of Katrina’s displaced victims in the Houston area today and tomorrow by giving away Wal-Mart gift cards ($50/card), then watch the joy on their faces and in their hearts!  Funds to purchase these cards have been made available to our congregation by LifeNets*.  You can pick up your cards immediately after services TODAY at a “labeling party” in the Fellowship Hall, where we will affix LifeNets.org labels to the cards and get them ready to hand out.  Jon Erickson will be there wearing a party lamp shade – so YOUR light can shine.  If 20 people sign-up, then at the end of the party, each volunteer (individual/family) will have $250.00 to give away!

 

At the party, you will receive a handout with guidelines to aid you in the distribution of the cards.  We will answer your questions and make some recommendations that should make this a rewarding and fulfilling experience for you and your family.  See you there!

 

*LifeNets is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that develops programs offering practical assistance that promote the well being and self-sufficiency of needy people throughout the world and, where possible, encourages them to pass on their gift. Through volunteer help LifeNets has helped thousands of people in Ukraine, the Baltics, Malawi, Zambia, Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru and more.

-end of announcement-

 

Katrina Relief Aid Guidelines

 

 

There are many ways to find evacuees in need. Following are just a few. Visit a Wal-Mart close to where you live and you will probably find folks displaced from Louisiana and Mississippi shopping there.  They may have air mattresses, pillows, towels, etc. in their carts and are often shopping together as a family or in groups of families.  Simply walk up to them, introduce yourself and ask them where they are from.  That’s usually all it takes – and out comes their unique story!  It would be great if you can take the time to make each interaction personal, get to know them a little bit and show them additional love and concern. Most are more than happy to share their experiences with the hurricane and the things that have happened to them since coming to Houston.  As you listen and ask questions, you will probably get a feel for their financial needs.  If that doesn’t come out naturally in the conversation, you may have to ask them how things are going for them financially.  Most will be direct and honest, telling you if they have adequate funds or not.  At some point in your conversation with them, try determine the nature of their financial situation.  You will then be faced with the choice of either offering them some gift cards and gas cards as you deem appropriate or wishing them well in the future and offering to pray for them without mentioning anything about gift or gas cards.  It is probably better not to mention anything about the gift cards to individuals to whom you have no intention of giving any cards.

 

Another location that might give you access to evacuees would be hotels in your part of town.  You can approach the front desk and ask the attendant if they are aware of any residents of the hotel who are from LA/MS and in need of financial assistance.  They are usually able to identify some individuals in that category.  They might be in the lobby, at the pool or in their room.  In most cases, the attendant would be willing to call the room of the evacuees and let you speak with them over the phone without disclosing their room number or name.  There are security and privacy issues that must be considered by the hotel when sharing any information about guests.

 

There will be many evacuees at your local clothing and food distribution centers that could be approached discreetly. If you know of homes or residences being used by evacuees, you could offer help there as well.

 

We suggest these possible venues rather than some of the shelters for this reason – if you give some gift cards to one or two families in the shelter, every family may expect one.  Hard feelings could be the result if you were to run out, offend someone, etc.  

 

If you like, you may wish to identify yourself as a member of the United Church of God and credit LifeNets.org with providing the gift cares.  However, this would not be necessary in every case, since each card will have a label on it identifying it as a gift from LifeNets.org. 

 

Obviously, the primary focus of this endeavor is helping to meet and fulfill the needs of those who have suffered severe losses from Hurricane Katrina. Yet it also very encouraging to those who have given to know that their donation has made a difference. When you have finished talking with a family or group of evacuees and distributed some gift and gas cards, take a few moments to jot down some notes about their story and experiences, how you felt when you heard their story, what it felt like to give them the cards, etc.  At the end of the day, we would like you to gather your notes, refine and format them into an e-mail message and mail it to Jon Erickson at JErick5481@aol.com.  In an effort to maintain the privacy and dignity of the recipients of these cards, we suggest that you do not include the names of any of the evacuees – just relate some aspects of their stories.  You may or may not wish to include your name in your report to Jon, but we hope you will.  If you do not have access to e-mail, please mail your written comments to Jon at 10218 Sagedowne Lane, Houston, TX  77089-4326.  Jon will put all of the accounts together and send them on to LifeNets.org, allowing them to post some of the highlights of your encounters on their website. 

 

We suggest that the minimum gift for each adult be 3 gift cards ($150) plus one additional gift card for each child – but we want you to make that decision!.

 

We suggest a maximum gift 8 gift cards, if you are given as many as that – but that’s your choice as well..

 

If you have any cards left over, please call Jon Erickson with that info.  If you feel you could use more cards, please call Jon Erickson (281.481.5481), who will try to connect those with extra cards to those who could use more cards.

 

We hope you have a wonderful experience giving to those in need!