Good people (such as yourselves?) should know about these remarkable Americans

[G_j]

posted info about this twice already, with no interest, I'm not giving up, good people need to know about these remarkable Americans, and they need support.
G_j

Roots Relief in TX/LA
by Man from Wasichustan

Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 10:16:54 AM PDT

I know that getting Barack elected means everything. We need to canvas, make phone calls, and donate donate donate. But Texas needs your help. Now. Because the government won't and no one(s) can do this but US.

Now I know your gut might tell you to donate time and resources to one of the Big Charities like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. And those are deserving entities.

But if you really want to get down and dirty and into the middle of everything, check out American Rainbow Rapid Response(ARRR), an all-volunteer (from bottom to top) non-profit organization with a track record of effective, direct, grass roots disaster relief. It's Your Organization.

You may not know them by that name, but it's the same folks who brought you The New Waveland Cafe, Market, and Free Clinic in the wake of Katrina.

Follow me over the fold, learn (or reminisce) about the most unique relief operation on the Gulf Coast in 2005 and how to become a part of the next chapter in grass roots, citizen-driven, secular, open source disaster response.

...more.. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/15/131654/135

~~~~~~~~~

FORWARD TO YOUR CONTACTS

Dear Friends,

First Thank you for reading this letter and your continued support to the project. It has been a rough road in Louisiana, but with patients and tenacity ARRR has overcome .

On first arriving in Baton Rouge the pure nature of our prime directive, Do not interfere with the evolution of those you serve, threatened to hinder us from fulling the request of the LA Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Due to nothing else than the Secular/ Non-Fundamentalist directives of ARRR.

Note: This is not to say we are against anything, We put the people first.

Simply put, because we refuse to allow or promote any type of proselitization to the public from our organization.

We overcame and found the people.

HOUMA, LA

When we arrived in Houma it was to feed the kind people of Terrebonne Parish who were waiting to receive emergency food stamps. Some 2000 of them daily.

However when Hurricane Ike arrived on the Bayou we pressed into service for those left without due to the larger more publicized organizations leaving the area due to the effects of the storm, and creating a gap for us to fill with hot nutritious food.

So we went to the people and with the help of the Houma Police Department , we found the unmet need. We ended up feed all the local/state Police, Emergency Responders, Sand Bag crews and all the 5 shelters functioning in Houma.

After 4 days of labor intensive cooking the larger organizations returned and were kind enough to arrive before us to every location we served and get us relieved of service in Terrebonne Parish. The LA Sates Attorney has found it an appealing story of which his interest is needed.

In the 4 days we provided
13,600 servings
And worked an estimated 1100 man hours.
And had to buy nearly every piece of food out of pocket. Not from the organization , but from our volunteers.

Why did the do that ?
Because it was the right thing to do for your neighbor.
totaling some $6000-8000.

Now we push on to Texas. And thanks to Organic Valley Farms, Conscious Alliance and Whole Foods we are well stocked to provide mostly organic meals to those effected for the first few days.

And thanks to you, we are starting to get donations.

However we still have a tremendous need for contributions, and will most likely have to buy much of the food we provide. Texas has let it be known that it is very unlikely we will receive any supply/support from the state due to the size and scope of the catastrophy, a failing economy and Ol' Mother Hubbards Cupboard (Food Banks) working at a deficiency months prior to the storm.

So please contribute the best you can, sometimes that $5 you give can feed a whole family a plate of hot Organic Food. And replace the common standard of a can of Beefaroni, cookies and a pouch of powdered milk.

Which is what they can expect for weeks, this is the United States of America, we can do better.

There is a massive need for volunteers and donations as soon as we land today in Texas. We are hitting the ground with 7 hardcore Vols. Join the team !

If you have ever had it in you mind to volunteer, do it now. We need you.

Volunteering is the muscle, but however painful it may seem, Donating is the blood. Please donate today.

To Donate go to the website www.americanrainbowrapidresponse.org
and use the PAYPAL button. Note: you need to create a PAYPAL account to use its service.
or call 1-800-335-9941 ext.2
Snail Mail
ARRR.INC po box 1648 Asheville, NC 28802
Or e-mail r.proxy@ hotmail.com

TO Volunteer
Call 1-800-335-9941 ext. 3
or e-mail r.proxy@ hotmail.com

And be Patient.

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.
Send all responses to r.proxy@ hotmail.com

Special thanks to
Organic Valley Farms, The Conscious Alliance, Whole Foods, Oz Relief, Fat Kids Kitchen, Pandemic Portions, and the Louisiana Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

And to our Hero's in the field...
Pan, Benji, Mari, Shane, Ryan, Ramon, Aslan, Shanda, Kali, Chad, Brian, Roger, Matt, Seth, Sacha, Rory, Jimmy, Tornado, and Steve.

And to Serene and Krystal for their awesome and formidable Volunteer Coordination.

Thanks Everybody !
Aaron Funk
Executive Director