Channeling the Effort - Hurricane Relief Update

October 12, 2005

A Report from Farifield, Iowa

Several of the Fairfield satsang members have been helping with Project Katrina Reunite to help lost children reunite with their families.

The Fairfield Satsang arranged to have Red Cross come to Fairfield to give the Introduction to Disaster Services Training (from Ottumwa, Iowa). Satsang members along with other members of the Fairfield community wanted to go through the training so that they could provide help to Hurricane survivors now or in the future.

The Fairfield Satsang organized and hosted a benefit dinner to raise funds for Katrina Hurricane Relief on October 1st. The dinner was a great success and raised $12,917.00 for Hurricane Katrina Relief. The dinner was a New Orleans style meal cooked by a professional chef and evacuee from the New Orleans area. He came from Baton Rouge, where he is currently staying to help with the event.

The Fairfield Satsang also organized a large garage sale in September from which all of the proceeds were given to support Amma pledge for Hurricane Katrina Relief. The sale raised approximately $4,975.00 including sales and additional donations.

Report from San Diego, California

Members of the San Diego Satsang are supporting Katrina Relief efforts in several ways.

One volunteer has held several gatherings to write inspirational letters and cards for evacuees. Individuals have or are seeking to provide assistance in the follow ways:

Pahi Maa is working 6 to 12 hours a day with Project Katrina Reunite to help lost children reunite with their families.
Volunteers are seeking Red Cross training as follows: Kirtti for Social Work; Mary McCracken for Psychological Services; Karuna and Vedaswarup for General Shelter Volunteer Work.
Rhanda Thompson is working through her website www.yogafinder.com to assist yoga teachers affected by Katrina by providing yoga supplies, help in rebuilding their studios and assistance in finding temporary and long term jobs.
Vinay is supporting efforts of the Vanguard Public Foundation Group to represent and protect the interests of the poor people who have lost their homes.

Several devotees have expressed interest in working from home or providing general assistance. We hope to assist these in finding ways to channel their energies.

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