The American Red Cross is the most highly visible relief organization assisting Katrina survivors. Americans are donating millions to the Red Cross because we care deeply about our fellow Americans who were hurt by Hurricane Katrina. Corporations have made it easy to donate. There is no shortage of Red Cross Ads on TV. Is this money getting to the Katrina survivors?
Amazon, Dell, United all have links to donate to the Red Cross, to name a few. Go to K-mart, Starbucks or your local grocery store, and you can add a Red Cross donation to your purchase. Even at our local farmer's market a kid was playing the violin for the Red Cross: Katrina Relief Fund. The donors and the survivors need to know the who, what, when, were, why and how of this great flow of support. In a September 12th article, MSNBC quoted Lauri Rhineheart, the director of disaster fund-raising at the Red Cross, "Of every dollar that goes to Hurricane Katrina, we guarantee that 91 cents of that dollar goes to the delivery of disaster relief." Notice the word "delivery".
I posted a diary a few weeks ago about a report of racism a Red Cross in Alabama.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/26/194010/991
The Red Cross volunteer, who called me about what she was witnessing at the Tuscaloosa Red Cross, was abruptly sent home for that story and for speaking with CNN. I've always admired the Red Cross as millions of others do, but now I have serious concerns about that organization. I hope that the racist attitudes at the Tuscaloosa Red Cross were isolated, but I fear that they might not be. America needs to know that their donations are making it to Katrina survivors and that the survivors are not being greeted with hostility and suspicion by the Red Cross.