Hurricane Katrina: Victims Scream For Help!

As the damage, lives, and missing the rest are calculated victims of Hurricane Katrina are asking what they can do to help and how they can be helped in their distress. The American Red Cross is helping as much as can and collecting funds to increase their ability to help the victims.

Federal aid has been implemented as well, to help victims and their families back on their feet. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is now helping in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Florida. With this additional aid supplies needed for many of the people of the area will be provided, as well as the necessary funds to prepare for reconstruction.

Many people have also mobilized to help those in need, both missing people and fixing damages. Searches are under way across Louisiana and Mississippi to find missing persons under the rubble and destruction that was left behind the path of Katrina.

Hopefully with all the help the people of these states are receiving will quickly be able to return to their daily lives. But for now the victims of Hurricane Katrina still need help in many ways and wonder where to go for help and found a group of local websites as www.mylouisiana.us www.mymississippi.us and be great help to search for information at the state level. At a more local level and have found www.myneworleansla.us www.myjacksonms.us. These sites offer hope and information for these devastated people. The forum created by the webmaster to provide information for victims in an organized manner. As a way to ask questions about what is being done in their local areas in terms of rebuilding and finding lost loved ones. And a smaller but still important aspect, giving victims a place to tell their stories as a way to help them cope with their losses and move on with their lives.

There are several ways to help including donating to the fund Red Cross www.redcross.org and also helping more directly by volunteering time to help. Another way to help these people directly if you have a lot of time you can visit my U.S. Network sites and give these people hope and information in the forums.

How To Avoid Scam Artist When you donate to Katrina relief

Images and video of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina are sadly amazing. As is true of our great nation, millions of people lined up to donate to help those who have been affected. While your actions are a shining example of the best traits of people, some unsavory groups are trying to make a profit off the tragedy.

Scam Artists

You can avoid these scam artists taking a few simple steps. Charitable organizations rely on contributions tax deductible as their primary source of funding. Before an agency can offer the benefit of a tax deduction for donations to be classified as such by the Internal Revenue Service. The process is laborious and effectively acts as informal investigation of the legitimacy of the charitable organization in question. Fortunately, the IRS makes this information available to the public.

You can verify the legitimacy of a charitable organization by contacting the IRS or an access to the list of charitable organizations on the Internet as follows:

IRS Customer Service: 1-800-829-1040

http://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78

The link above goes to a page where you can search Publication 78. Publication 78 is a list of all charitable organizations that have received tax-exempt status with the IRS. Scam artist and unpleasant characters will not be listed with the IRS. If the organization you are considering does not appear in Publication 78, you may consider another organization.

E-mail Scam

You should be cautious if you receive an email with the request for money for relief. The e-mail can not be from a legitimate organization. Fraudulent e-mail campaigns are an incredible level. If you are determined to make a contribution because of an e-mail you received, be sure to check the organization with the IRS as stated above.

Unfortunately, there is a second problem with responding to a mail solicitation for monetary donations. Suppose you regularly make donations to a charity of large and you receive a request for a donation of that organization to help with the tragedy of New Orleans and elsewhere. You can click on the link in the e-mail and make a donation, right? Perhaps not. There is still a risk that e-mail is a scam. Many online companies have ongoing problems with scam artists copying their websites, logos, headers, etc., and sending e-mail solicitations to individuals scam. There is no reason to believe that charitable organizations would be less of a target, so be careful.

If you still have to respond to an invitation e-mail with a donation, you should use a search engine to search for the organization in the email. After clicking to the site, you can make a donation in confidence.

The cause devastation of Katrina is there for everyone. Following the above recommendations, you can make sure the donation gets to the people in need.

Katrina Relief Group Is Born - Atlanta entrepreneur mobilizes Faith, Business and Hip Hop Community For Katrina victims

Mother Nature has reared her head and predictably unpredictable hit the Gulf Coast with a vicious blow. More orderly, there is a common place where people seek solace and healing - in their faith. America, in turn, is a country founded on faith, and this article chronicles the birth and growth of one of the efforts by people of faith to help their fellows. Realizing the immediate need for financial and spiritual support for victims of Hurricane Katrina, Rodney Sampson, a highly respected expert in faith-based marketing involving some of the biggest names in the African American community, is launching a national campaign to address these specific needs.

When I interviewed Sampson, I found that he was a stabilizing influence and very concentrated. "At the beginning of the Bible, the story of Cain and Abel we learn that we are our brother's keeper," said Sampson. "Our brothers and sisters in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast are hurting and in need. And 'our collective responsibility to take care of their needs not only spiritual but also their physical needs." Sampson, founder of World Christian Times (www.worldchristiantimes.com) and Intellectual Change (www.intellectualcurrency.com) is mobilizing the hip-hop, entertainment, business and faith communities on the basis of encouraging industry colleagues to donate money and provide strategic support for organized relief efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. "At this point, we are organizing a grass roots global campaign to encourage people to donate money to Operation Rescue, which focuses on support for both immediate and in transition," said Sampson. Sampson is clearly trying to look ahead and anticipate the needs of over half a million people newly displaced.

Hurricane Katrina VICTIMS RELIEF FOCUS

Speaking Sampson discussed rescue operation and its specific focus. Realizing that tens of millions of dollars will be donated, but it can never affect the people most directly affected by the rescue operation funds raised will be distributed in four strategic areas:

SECURITY - Monies will be donated to religious organizations to assist with direct contact with families in transition. medical supplies, prescription drugs, toiletries and other necessities will be purchased and delivered directly to families in transition.

Attitudes - Bibles and other books will be purchased and provided encouraging families in transition, diffusion of Internet technology will be used to deliver encouraging messages of hope and faith based leaders of entertainment.

PROFITABILITY - clothes, books and toys will be purchased, collected and distributed to families in transition.

ECONOMICS - The World Christian Times will develop a package of economic transition for families in search of work, living space, and the school for their children. Displaced families can apply directly for the money. Partner organizations are being now assist in this process.

We are also looking to collaborate with more organizations to fulfill other important needs for the displaced of the cyclone, including putting Bibles in their hands, and connect with spiritual advice, job opportunities and financial assistance, said Sampson. "Interestingly Sampson, who is focusing much of its efforts on how the younger generation hip-hop can participate in the rescue.

A MILLION FOR HURRICANE Katrina PARTNERS NEEDED

The immediate objective of the World Christian Times is to get one million global partners and concerned citizens to donate a minimum of ten dollars a month for a minimum of six months. The World Christian times the emergency call center and online system will manage all donations. A 24-hour hot line was quickly established (1-888-777-3473) to receive donations from concerned citizens. "Often, celebrities and the entertainment can make large donations once directly to disaster relief organizations," Sampson noted. However, our goal is to use their God given influence in collaboration with our technology and infrastructure to encourage their fans and followers also give. This strategy will have a greater impact and that is what we are planning and execution. "Other small businesses have joined Sampson, in an effort to raise awareness that will be coordinated through the Web sites of major effort, and www.operationsave.us www.worldchristiantimes.com. Public relations, Internet marketing, Web development, Internet streaming, CPA, media , marketing and businesses are joining the cause. The conversations are held with the Bible and publishing houses, transport companies, and companies' personnel to contribute to this effort.

Katrina STRATEGY AFTER THE CURRENT

To run the campaign "Operation SAVE, The World Christian Times and its partner organizations have created a website entitled www.opreationsave.us Central. This interactive website to view video clips from hip-hop and entertainment community, called the requests for action, news updates and details on how the global community can participate. One additional feature of the site which would provide a real-time network among potential employers of the victims of that no longer work. Remember it will take months for New Orleans, still be habitable, and all but large enterprises will be long closed. In fact, this may well be the single largest one-day reduction of jobs in the U.S. base used in the country's history. Finally, the site will be a portal to support the distribution of clothing, spiritual materials as the Bible, and even something as simple as toys for the tens of thousands of children who have lost everything.

Every time you talk with Sampson a deadline gets closer - "influencers". Sampson says categorically "The concept of a role model has been twisted in so many directions that I felt a new term should be coined" Sampson continues: "I noticed that people in leading positions effectively influence the actions of others from here term influence. " Rescue operation is focusing on key influencers that will direct people from all walks of life to go to the site of rescue operation or call the hotline.

MISSION HARD relief, but not impossible

Sampson to attract partners to give one million monthly is difficult, but certainly not impossible. Work with churches, companies and not-for-profit organizations on a daily basis are using direct mail, Internet, call center and creative marketing strategies to build global partnership programs that generate millions of dollars a year.

A society that has moved to the school curriculum is called partnership Aid (www.careerschoolaid.com), overseen by Managing Director, Sam Ingram. The company is well known for his efforts to help people through lifelong learning involves dozens of partner schools in many different sectors. "My first reaction to events in the Gulf Coast was shock and" disbelief, Ingram said, "I knew I had to do and luckily I was introduced to the efforts of Rodney Sampson and rescue operation. Our company intends to focus mission re-training displaced New Orleans. " Ingram went on to say that people will end up having to get on with the rest of their lives, and feels strongly that the federal government will develop a long-term plan of rehabilitation for the displaced.

Sampson hopes that influencers like Ingram will know and understand how their 'brand "and" popularity "can be used with the technology and scope to achieve more than just a one-time donation. There are millions of followers, their hip- hop, faith, and entertainment guide a multi-billion dollar market. "It 's proved that Billions of dollars are generated each year through the sale of albums, concerts, conferences, festivals, books, and endorsements" proclaimed Sampson. "Our collective goal is to move a small percentage of these revenue streams to a global common good that will reach the audience that these influencers serve.

Sampson as he sits in his office, with phones ringing seemingly every 30 seconds, a bit 'of his philosophy is revealed. "The difficult we do immediately. The impossible but requires a second longer," said Samson and peers into the future. Only time will tell if the rest of us can see his vision.

Rena Olsen Contributing Writer
International Direct Printing

Contributing Writer
Bruce Prokopets
Executive Editor
International Direct Printing
www.pressdirectinternational.com