Refugees

[frogalone]

Prom, bless you for what you're doing.

I have a ?, if you can answer. When the gov't or whomever gives cash (or debit cards) to refugees, how do they know it won't be used for drugs, booze, cigarettes, etc. The cash will be gone and some could still be without basic needs.

When you think in terms of securing a place to live, furnishing it, feeding and clothing a family, $2000 doesn't go that far without a lot of thouight. But the idea of some being too strung-out or irresponsible to use the money rightly irks me.

Are any safeguards being used? 

 

[MotherOfPromise]

I can't adequately answer your questions on that one. I haven't worked with any of that stuff so I am not really knowledgable about the process. I am sure greed will be a problem for some and they will try to get as much as they can. I don't think there is any way to make sure those things don't happen at times without having so much red tape involved that people's basic needs don't get met. I think to a degree you just have to trust people to not do that although I'm sure many won't use what they get wisely. Here in our city they try to document as much as they can to see that people don't take advantage of the system. But there is only so much that can be done. It is such a widespread tragedy in so many ways. Most of the people here are in shelters or private homes so they probably won't be able to do that as much. They are without transportation for the most part. But people who are in places where they are free to come and go without restrictions would be able do that much more easily, I would think. AS time goes by I thinks we will see more and more that there are failings in the system, some could be helped and others not.
We have already had some warnings about a group here that is collecting donations in buckets at busy intersections in the name of a local church. These aren't storm victims just local crooks, or maybe not local, who knows. No one at the church has authorized this. I was approached the last time I went into town. But churches don't operate this way and I know that. They take collections from their members and document the giving so everything can be on the up and up. The churches here have posted on their websites other legitimate places to give, but people can be so gullible when others are hurting. There is such a fine line between giving helpfully and giving harmfully. And yet we know eventually God will even the score for He deals justly.
Just my own 2 cents worth here.. I think the President is getting blamed for a lot of things that is not his fault...and a lot of things are being said that aren't fair and true. He is a far cry from being perfect like the rest of us, but I do think he and the First Lady are kind and caring people.

 

[frogalone]

It seems like there's always crooks out there. Many false collections will probably spring up.
One good thing is I read in Yahoo News that now city officials don't think the death toll will be as high as origionally perdicted. Many hacked thru' their attics.

 

[frogalone]

MOP, now I remember what else I wanted to say. I agree about the Bushes. The more I hear, the more obvious it becomes that the ball was dropped on several levels.

 

[MotherOfPromise]

Thanks Scooter. It just grieves me to see what is going on in our country. I just want to whip out some real history books from somewhere and begin to tell the story of our nation again. We are too young to die!

 

[frogalone]

Thanks Scooter. It just grieves me to see what is going on in our country. I just want to whip out some real history books from somewhere and begin to tell the story of our nation again. We are too young to die!

I believe the majority of us are still Americans. One image that has stayed in my mind throughout this was shown on the national news more than a week ago. When a mass of people were evacuating, I saw a young, black man tenderly assisting an elderly white woman as she walked. I've seen young, white guards carrying little black tots, trying to comfort.

Sure, for a moment when I was trying to figure out how this could happen in our country, I pondered maybe it was class and race. But, none of the folks we rescue/help oversees are white Europeans so I quickly realized th at wasn't it. I think a lot of us are still having trouble processing how this could happen in our country. I heard people were told to bring enough food for 3-4 days before they came to the shelter. Maybe everyone failed to take it seriously enough.

 

[MotherOfPromise]

When I say that we are too young to die what I mean is...if our country doesn't return to the God of our fathers how can we survive? Our country's foundation is built upon God. The further we get from that we more things spiral downward. And yes, there are many, many reaching out to with open arms to help all people, I'm seein g it all the time, but the voices being broadcast the loudest are often without reason or truth.

Enough said. If you look at some of the other forums you will see what I mean.

 

[MotherOfPromise]

Go to this site and your heart will be touched with an amazing recount of rescued children.

This was posted by Loribee in one of the other forums.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/chitribts/2...chargeof6babies

 

[keeptrying]

Thank-you MP. That was a story with a happy ending.

 

[frogalone]

Thank-you MP. That was a story with a happy ending.

I just got an e-mail from Joni's organizations that they're trying to provide wheelchairs, walkers etc. to elderly and disabled hurricane victiims. Most were separated from theirs during evacuation. Also, shelters are asking for hospital beds so disabled don't have to sleep on cots.
It said they lost 200 wheelchairs docked at AGulfport, waiting to be shipped to Cuba when the hurrricane hit.