News and Announcements
HELP HURRICANE KATRINA AND HURRICANE RITA FAMILIES
Date: 11/2/2005
HELP HURRICANE KATRINA AND HURRICANE RITA FAMILIES
FROM YOUR FAMILY TO THEIR FAMILY
ADOPT A FAMILY IN NEED AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES
"IT'S IN THE BAG!"
Duffel bags, soft fabric suitcases or even fabric laundry bags are needed by families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita as they move whatever possessions they have back to their homes or move on to new homes. In these upcoming months as the hardest hit areas are rebuilt, people will begin to return home from temporary housing. Their challenge to re-build their lives will be enormous. They will desperately be in need of basic essentials: clothing, cold weather clothing, sheets, towels, pillows and blankets, over the counter medications, eyeglasses . . . everything! ALL basic living essentials will be needed, from clean and new packs of fresh underwear to household appliances.
The list is long, but here's what your family can do to help! Adopt a Hurricane Katrina victim's family, helping them as they set up a new home.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS
To get started, complete this form and we will contact you with information about your adopted family. Family-to-family has received extensive lists of families in need from government agencies, shelters and social service agencies working throughout the Gulf region. We will match your family with a family in need and we are hoping that your family will commit to helping for 3-6 months.
As a volunteer family you will receive the name and address of the family you are sponsoring and we are asking you to send the following:
A duffel bag, soft suitcase, or laundry bag
The letter and questionnaire available below
A return stamped and addressed envelope to you, the sender
A pen
Please place the letter, questionnaire, stamped return envelope and pen INSIDE THE BAG. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEND A SELF ADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE FOR YOUR ADOPTED FAMILY TO REPLY TO YOU. Please note: If you are not comfortable sharing your home address consider a p.o. box for return mail from your sponsored/adopted family.
You will be responsible for the shipping/posting of the items you are sending.
Download Questionnaire
Download letter
HOW TO MINIMIZE COSTS
We do not expect the sponsor to be able to provide the families with everything on their list. Each sponsor should only send as much as they feel comfortable with. Below is a list of cost saving ideas for sponsors and if you have any more ideas please email them to us so we can add them to our list.
SHARE THE SPONSORSHIP
Instead of trying to help your family alone ask friends and organizations to help. Here is a list of groups you might want to ask:
Extended family
Places of Worship
Playgroup
Boy or Girl Scout troops
Neighbors
Sports teams
Clubs/Organizations
Workplace
GOODS
DO NOT SEND CASH. If you'd like, send a Visa/Master Card gift card, a gas gift card, or as you receive information from your family, a gift card to a local Wal-Mart, Kmart etc.
Please send either new or Very Gently Used items. Do remember that your adopted family's personal dignity has been compromised so profoundly.
Shop at discount stores, especially when items are on sale
Download our general information letter and approach local merchants for donations of in-kind goods
Shop online at stores that offer discounted shipping for larger orders
SHIPPING
USPS has a flat rate box for around $7.00. You can stuff as much as you like in it and it will still be $7.00
Use ground services for UPS, Fed Ex, USPS
Ask local UPS Mail Boxes, Etc. store for discounted shipping
Shopping online eliminates your travel to and from shipping stores
As your family settles in try and keep communications flowing, helping them think through what they might need in the coming months. Remember, the trauma will be with these families for quite a long time.
Please note: Families in the Gulf area are still in transition and though they contact us when they are in housing some families do move multiple times. If you do not hear from your family within 3 weeks of sending your bag, etc., please contact us and we will assign another family to you.
It is not necessary that you send another bag. Just send a zip lock plastic bag with the documents and pen and stamped envelope to be returned to you.
Family-to-Family is working with several government agencies in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. These authorities are providing us with names of families who have sought their assistance. Additionally, as word has spread among the community of evacuees, evacuees themselves are registering with Family-to-Family. Because of the exigent circumstances surrounding this disaster, the in-depth screening that is customarily performed to determine eligibility for aid is not being performed. We are acting on good faith that all names provided to us represent families who do require the type of support we offer. In the event Family-to-Family learns of any malfeasance or fraud, we will provide sending families with this information and will assist them so that they can adopt another family truly in need.