I have seen several other people mentioning providing living space for those left homeless by the storm in the various Katrina related threads, Opalcat has a thread trying to get a database up and running online in a more general sense, and I have been trying hard to get through to the Red Cross to see about any organized efforts that I can join, but meanwhile I figured that if the old saying “charity begins at home” is to be believed, than the idea behind it is that family is the place to start looking. Well, the SDMB has always seemed like something of an extended internet family (maybe more so in the past, but the idea is still there), so I figured I’d start this thread for Dopers and hurricane victims to get together.
My wife (GingeroftheNorth) and I live in a typical Baltimore row house, and we’d like to extend an offer to any Dopers who have been displaced by the hurricane a free place to live for as long as it takes to get back on your feet. We don’t have a lot of room, our guest room is in the basement and everyone would be sharing a single bathroom upstairs, but a single parent with child, a couple, or a single individual could fit in here pretty easily. Unfortunately, my wife’s allergies preclude any pets, but if you have them we’ll find a place for them to stay somehow. I’m not just limiting it to dopers, if any dopers know of Katrina victims who could take advantage of this offer, please put us in contact. I know Baltimore isn’t next door to New Orleans, but if you can get here, the door’s open (and we might even be able to help with the get here part. Airline tickets are a bit beyond our means at the moment, but we have a mini-van and the roads go everywhere in America)
Anyone else who is willing or able to offer shelter should post here, as well as anyone who needs or knows of someone who needs a place to go. I realize that this may be committing us to the long haul, I’m willing to step up to the plate and commit to that (although if you’re still here when my kids go away to college, we’ll have to have a little chat). In the event that the relocation becomes permanent, we would certainly be willing to help with jobs, permanent housing and the like.
I’ve always felt that life is short and pain is long and we were all put on this planet to help each other out. Time to put that into action. Our emails are in our profiles. Please, let us help.
Ginger and Dave, I don’t have much space, but if someone needs household goods I have some extra stuff. It’s not castoffs, even if some items are very gently used. If you get some folks I could send extra bedding, linens, towels, and the like. Let me know what your needs would be. And I’m sure we Dopers could cough up some cash for groceries too.
I’ve got some spare frequent flier miles sitting around, with American Airlines. There should be enough for an economy flight within the lower 48 states. If someone needs a flight for themselves or friend/family, please contact me.
A very kind offer indeed, but I believe I read that American and Southwest are already providing some free passage to the victims. I know they are running a sort of free “airlift” out of the area now. As they are both DFW-based airlines, it might be that they’re only airlifting them to the DFW area. (I don’t know for sure)
Any one with more accurate data on this, please correct/update me.
I started This thread before this all started, not a single bite! I’ve offered anywhere and everywhere online to help, it seems noone wants to come up to NW Arkansas.
I’ve offered anywhere and everywhere online to help, it seems noone wants to come up to NW Arkansas.