'Normal' and the Hurricane

[black_lavender]

It's hard to believe that just a year ago, I was happily anticipating My Favorite Blonde's return from the desert. He would be home in less than a month, so I busied myself with writing and remodeling projects. After his return, we were going to take a week-long trip somewhere by ourselves, a second honeymoon of sorts.

Comments

[nokomarie]

I do indeed know what you mean. Our little "jaunt" down to Florida destroyed us financially. It could not have been more ill-advised and I literally did not have the faintest idea where Christmas was going to come from. I quietly prepped the kids to expect nothing much. They were 6 and 4 at the time, so it was hard. Eighty bucks a week for food for a family of four is hard

[black_lavender]

Trusting the charity can be a huge problem. Locally, I try to donate to Waterfront Mission, Sharing and Caring, and PAWS (Panhandle Animal Welfare Society), all of which operate on shoestring budgets and direct as much money as possible toward those who need it. Sharing and Caring in particular has been a huge help in our community, year-round. None of the directors/workers for these charities are living high on the hog with the donations. I also like to donate to the local fire departments, most of which are volunteer-staffed, and to a few of the local military organizations as well, such as the Enlisted Widows Foundation.

I have issues with the Red Cross at the national level, although I have found many of their workers to be wonderful, generous people. Their administration needs policing, though. I also have problems with the United Way. I much prefer to direct donations to the smaller, local charities.

[nokomarie]

Huh. We've always given hand to hand, as we got it ourselves. A week's groceries for somebody with recipes or paying off a bill for somebody anonymously if we can.