It's amazing how many organizations out there are offering help to Katrina victims. A number of YMCAs are taking donations of supplies to be sent down south. A local chapter asked me if I'd be willing to take some of these supplies down with me when I go. Still trying to figure out if there are other options to get down there besides DHHS ( Read more... )

So I did that training today. It started at 9:00 am, I shadowed another caseworker at 11:00 am and had my first case of my own at 11:30 am. Basically my job is to talk to people who were living in the effected area, hear their stories, write down the important details for the Red Cross, point out the other agencies in the facility that would have ( Read more... )

I spoke with Pastors for Peace again yesterday. They've got a van leaving from Chicago this weekend, but they're not really gonna be able to take volunteers. They're more bringing supplies (food, water, etc.), which means that if I went with I'd be taking up room that could be used for supplies. Looks like I'll have to find another way ( Read more... )

New Orleans. A city built below sea level. For years, officials requested government funding to strengthen the levees. For years they were denied. Now, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina a levee broke, covering 80% of the city in toxic water. People lost their homes, families, everything. They began scavenging in the devastated city for whatever ( Read more... )