By now we’ve all been inundated with images from the disaster along the Gulf Coast. Anyone watching television or reading the newspaper over the last several days has witnessed from afar the true tragedy Hurricane Katrina left in its wake.
And if you’ve continued to monitor events, you know corporations and individuals from the high profile to the rank-and-file have been donating money in amounts not seen since the tsunami hit eastern Asia. You probably are also aware there are numerous fund-raising scams out there, aimed at using your sympathy for the victims of this disaster against you. These catastrophic events, it seems, bring out both the best and the worst in human nature.
However, none of this should stop you from lending a helping hand.
It’s easy to watch from the relative comfort of our couches and assume someone else will step up and help. It’s also not unreasonable to worry if your donation is going to end up in the wrong hands.
But just like reports of looting and other violence, the scams are truly the exception to the rule. If you are careful and donate to groups such as the Red Cross through the relief concert at Red Rocks, local schools or places like Miner’s Alley Playhouse, you can rest assured money will go to those in need.
It’s not just money, however, that is needed. Volunteers are also needed for two to six weeks to take incoming calls from hurricane victims. Send an e-mail to fema@alpineaccess.com with availability, times and rough number of hours of availability if you want to help.
If writing out a check or researching organizations requires more time than you have, Historic Olde Town Arvada and the Mile High Newspapers will make it easier for you. Head on up to the Arvada Harvest Festival parade Saturday at 10 a.m. and look for the youth carriers marching behind the Arvada Press banner. They will be carrying buckets for your donations to the Red Cross.
All you need to do is come and enjoy the festivities and drop some change in the buckets.
While help is finally on the way to those in the most desperate of circumstances on the Gulf Coast, the need will persists for months to come. Don’t let complacency or the fear of scam artists stop you from doing what you can. As we learned from the Tsunami in Asia, even the smallest of donations can go a long way.