Donate for Gulf Residents

[WestSeattle2]

http://www.gnof.org/

Only six percent of your donation goes for administrative overhead -

While it might be easy to sit back and tell ourselves that BP and the government will help these residents out; we know that not to be true. As soon as the TV cameras and talk show hosts leave the region, the residents will be made to jump through endless bureaucratic and legal hoops to get what they deserve. These folks need assistance now; not ten, fifteen, or twenty years from now.

[upi402]

1. are you kidding?

clean up after BP? and on behalf of a corporatist government that refuses to make them do anything?

sorry. no way

[WestSeattle2]

2. Put yourself in their shoes; through no fault of their own, their

entire lives are being destroyed; their region environmentally decimated; their personal finances depleted; and your response to them is "sure sucks to be you - go talk to BP or the government".

Nice.

[John N Morgan]

3. SCAM

[WestSeattle2]

4. Not true; in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Why would

you slander this organization?

[hlthe2b]

5. I suggest you donate instead to post-Katrina related efforts...

or highly targeted charities that work to rehab Gulf wildlife independent of this spill. BP does not need to be let off the hook.

[WestSeattle2]

6. Who said anything about letting BP off the hook? Forcing

the residents in these areas to wait for assistance that may be months away, is ok by you, eh?

Karma can be a bitch.

[hlthe2b]

7. Your comment to me "karma can be a bitch" is really uncalled for

The people of the Gulf are still reeling from Katrina. Most of them are the same people who are most affected by this oil debacle. To donate directly to causes that help rebuild after Katrina is also helping them survive this latest onslaught.

Your proclaimed compassion towards others is belied by your antagonism toward others who are proposing alternate ways to help. Which makes me wonder why you are pushing this particular charity so hard, after all. I suspect others may wonder, as well.

[WestSeattle2]

8. What are you implying? That I own this organization?

[Iwasthere]

9. I bet step over the homeless and cuss at those with cardboard signs too

Just a little compassion... I, personally am going to have my wife divert the few dollars we give to Charity each month to this one.


edited for grammer

[WestSeattle2]

10. I'm sure the locals will be most grateful. The beauty of

widespread giving is that we don't have to be rich to make a difference. A few bucks times a few million compassionate souls can make all the difference to those on the receiving end.

[hlthe2b]

11. your post --if you meant it to be a response to me-- makes no sense

But, I applaud sincere efforts to help the people of the Gulf. I just hope people carefully research how their money will be spent and how accountable the charity will be for the money received.

[tilsammans]

12. We're all in this together, like it or not

These folks have suffered enough. I'm here to help in any way I can.

There but for the grace of God go all of us.

Thank you for posting this information. :yourock:

[WestSeattle2]

14. "There but for the grace of God go all of us" - perfectly said! I think

most American's simply can't fathom what it would be like to have everything you've worked for, utterly destroyed in a matter of hours or weeks. It's just incomprehensible. I for one would not wish that experience on anyone. The least I can do is send a few bucks to an organization that's intimately familiar with the region, it's people, it's wildlife, and most importantly, the other non-profits in that region. They know who the "good guys" are - the ones who spend less than ten percent of donations on overhead.

[SargeUNN]

13. not that my opinion matters but

I have family and friends in the affected area and lived there until 3 years ago, I can honestly say some of you are really shameful and I want to point out your remarks are just like those hate talkers who caused us in the Katrina Debacle so much pain and suffering and sometimes death. Thanks for your wonderful f=== you attitude you truly are a disgrace to humanity.

[hlthe2b]

15. SargeUNN, I believe many of us "know you" from your calls

following Katrina to Mike Malloy and your posts here and appreciate the depth of your concern during and the years after Katrina for the people of this region. Howoever, I think you are totally misconstruing what is being said here. I want to help in ways I know will get to those in need and likewise will not let BP off the hook. There are PLENTY of those available, needed and targeted charitable organizations LOCATED in the region, where they can make the most impact. Even those on this thread who simply comment to the effect that "no, it is BP's responsibility" are not necessarily suggesting they won't help. I think you are totally over-reading. I certainly have no "f___ you attitude". I have been giving regularly to Habitats for Humanity in their fund targeting NOLA and the Mississippi Gulf coast most impacted from Katrina. I know what they are doing and I know that they are helping. I likewise am working with a Charity Hospital associated group in NOLA.

So, kindly don't jump to such conclusions. It is NOT the way to respond to the many many many DUers who have been here all along trying to help the people of the Gulf, as well as following so many other horrendous disasters. I am proud of my fellow DUers for doing so and their questioning new charities being pushed by a poster over all the others, is not a bad thing. We should ALL know where it is our charitable dollars are going and whether they are being used as intended.

[SargeUNN]

16. well for what it is worth

I have checked out this organization and it is worth donating to. I have no reservations about them.

[hlthe2b]

17. that is good to know...

I know you haven't been registered on DU that long, but suspect you probably have been a very long term reader. If so, you will know that there have been incidents where individuals have promoted a cause that later turned out to be not so "worthy" and more tailored to their own self-benefit.

If I were to propose that DUers donate to one or more of my own favored charities, I would do so in a calm way, prepared to answer questions as to why they should choose this charity over others, acknowledging that there may be many other equally appropriate groups to donate. That the OP became so defensive and overtly antagonistic when questioned sadly probably will push others away from this group. I hope that is not the case, but if it is, I suspect those wishing to help will search out these many other alternatives.

[WestSeattle2]

18. I think some of the callousness comes from a lack of life

experience. Those of us who have been knocked on our ass a few times, find it easy to empathize with those who are struggling. It's particularly painful to watch people suffer from something totally out of their control. I watch interviews of people "of a certain age" and know darn well it will be impossible for them to start over somewhere else. It's easy for young people in their 20's and early 30's to pick up and move; it's not easy for those older than that. It's heartbreaking is what it is.

[hlthe2b]

19. your assumptions are very broad-stroked and sadly

will likely further drive others from your charity of choice. There are many good people wanting to help on DU. You don't encourage them to pick your chosen charity by being so abrasive, accusatory and by stereotyping, with no seeming ability to understand that there are other ways to help besides your own chosen route.

[WestSeattle2]

21. You seemingly have issues that are incomprehensible. If you

don't wish to contribute to this charity - FINE! Have a great life!

[customerserviceguy]

20. Thanks for posting this

I was happy to make a donation.

[WestSeattle2]

22. Absolutely!