Every time I see a natural disaster on TV....

[fastfredracing]

I have this urge to lock the doors to my shop, load the dump truck with all of my tools, and go volunteer for a month. I see myself doing this at some point in my life.
If only I did not have those pesky bills to pay.

[sc_rufctr]

I feel the same as you but I have my kids full time.

The news is never good. It's only the fifth month and looking back it's hard to believe so much has happened.
Have faith and count your blessings. Things will get better.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

This is exactly what the banks want - people enslaved by the minutia of life and consumed with making their payments to them.

If people could break free of that mentality, they might be able to start functioning as a society or as a collective. This represents a threat to them, since we might start realizing that we can function without them and their money.

I admire your intentions - I just wish more people (1) thought that way and (2) acted on those thoughts.

[74-911]

I think most people have the urge to go and help. However, a friend who does just that gives the following advice re: major disasters:

Unless you have an RV to live in, you may just be contributing to the problem. If thousands of people are homeless as in Joplin, you dont want to be taking a place to stay away from someone that really needs it.

Dont clean out your closet of old stuff you dont wear and "donate" it to relief organizations.

If you really want to help, the best way is to donate cash to the Red Cross and other reputable relief organizations.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by 74-911

I think most people have the urge to go and help. However, a friend who does just that gives the following advice re: major disasters:

Unless you have an RV to live in, you may just be contributing to the problem. If thousands of people are homeless as in Joplin, you dont want to be taking a place to stay away from someone that really needs it.

Dont clean out your closet of old stuff you dont wear and "donate" it to relief organizations.

If you really want to help, the best way is to donate cash to the Red Cross and other reputable relief organizations.

This is what I've done... Not a lot but enough to make a difference to someone.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

This is what I've done... Not a lot but enough to make a difference to someone.

I do the same. Not a lot but if enough people donate a little, it can become a lot??

I am retired and have the time to go help.. I could pack up my pickup and go but then what once I get there. Where do you stay, etc etc...

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 74-911

If you really want to help, the best way is to donate cash to the Red Cross and other reputable relief organizations.

That's what I do. It's not very satisfying. As I said in another thread, when we had a major tornado in my area they didn't even want us locals helping clean up. It was like, "Get our of our way, we're here to help you."

[Dantilla]

I was in New Orleans five weeks after Katrina. Very well organized efforts were already in place, so I just showed up with 20 other skilled construction guys from my area and went to work. We brought our own tools, materials and generators.

Pretty rewarding to return the next August to see that the two buildings we worked on had become beacons of activity for the entire community.

Second trip was spent hanging sheetrock in a cute old 80-year-old lady's house.

A bunch of the same guys just returned from Alabama. They said it was an awesome trip, where they were very effective. I did not go this time because my hand will still not last long after buggering it up last Summer after a nasty tumble off the mountain bike. After a day or two, I'd be pretty worthless.

[pwd72s]

Seems to me that folks with top notch hand skills would be in high demand...kudos to those who do have the resources to volunteer.