PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP! We are active across the Gulf Region working to rebuild. We have been the only organization providing regular meals. The American Red Cross, state emergency agencies, and FEMA asked everyone to call our toll free number for food relief. The current crisis is that the people of New Orleans need drinking water. This is an emergency! Since the storm swept through the gulf we have been one of the only hot meals shared on a daily bases in New Orleans. We still need volunteers, tools and food to help the people displaced by Katrina. We need people to help us repair homes and cook meals for people volunteering to rebuild New Orleans. It's been difficult to locate our kitchens after the city kicked us out of Washington Square Park. We are now asking everyone to go to the Common Grounds in Algers. They can help you find Food Not Bombs. We also have a meeting place the Common Grounds 9th Ward Center off the Claiborne Ave exit on I-10 at the corner of N. Claiborne and Pauline in the 9th Ward.
Travel along with Free Speech TV as they cover our grassroots effort Food Not Bombs
WATER NEEDED
On average we have from 200 to 250 volunteers gutting houses and working
in various areas daily. We also have about 300 families coming to our
distribution centers each day as well.
One of my biggest concerns with having people work in the heat is their
safety from dehydration. In the past we were able to get water from a
local food bank but their resources have dwindled to where they are no
longer able to assist us with food and water.
At the pace that we are and should be using water we would need
approximately 60,000 bottles of water per month for our volunteers and
90,000 bottles to be passed out through distribution. Unfortunately, we
don't have such a supply and we have had to limit distribution to
families and volunteers. With both residents and volunteers suiting up
in protective gear; which includes tyvek suits, respirators, goggles,
rubber boots and gloves, they are essentially cooking themselves while
they work inside moldy houses with no form of air circulation. This
combination with not enough water to go around is a dangerous combination.
The American Red Cross has been sending Katrina survivors to Food Not Bombs. We get many calls from people who tell us that the Red Cross gave them our toll free number. We have been able to help most of the people directed our way. You can help Food Not Bombs support the Katrina survivors by making a donation. We also have had to make a number of changes in New Orleans becuase the police have told us to move our kitchen in Washington Square Park so we moved to Saint Banard Parish. After a few weeks they told us to move again.
To get a look at our program in New orleans visit the TV program SourceCode Travel along with Free Speech TV as they cover our grassroots effort Food Not Bombs, whose volunteers got in their own vans and cars and showed up to feed disaster survivors who had been abandoned by all other governmental and official relief efforts.
Food Not Bombs groups all across the southern United States are feeding families displaced by Katrina. Help us get food and supplies past FEMA. We need clothes, cooking equipment, food, cooks and money to provide for thousands of hungry homeless people. We have no overhead, rent or salaries so every donation goes directly to helping people. Many affected by Katrina are familiar with Food Not Bombs because we have been sharing free food in communities through the area for many years. Because we are independent we can take food and supplies to areas where no other agency can reach.
This disaster may last another year or more so we intend to keep setting up Food Not Bombs field kitchens throughout the region. Food Not Bombs is encouraging the refugees to participate in cooking, serving and collecting the food. Their participation may be one of the most therapeutic things we can provide. Tens of thousands of survivors were kicked out of thier motel rooms. We believe that many of these people will be living outside homeless. Even if you can't go to the disaster area we need lots of help in your community. The number of people we need to feed is growing all across America as people leave Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama looking for work and housing. We are trying to share food every day in your community. Please call to see how you can help in your area.
Many Survivors are now considered regular members of America's homeless population. In 1989, Food Not Bombs fed the people made homeless by the earthquake and after a few weeks the working class victims were forgotten and faced the same problems as those who were homeless before the earthquake. Because this could be such a long crisis it may be better for us to teach people how to organize their own local Food Not Bombs group so they can provide long-term support.
There are some things you can do that can help us respond effectively to this disaster.
With the summer heat wave upon us we are in desperate need for
water for both volunteers as well as our distribution centers for
residents.
Volunteer to feed the hungry and help the victims of Katrina
Katrina@foodnotbombs.net
SourceCode video of Food Not Bombs sharing food in New Orleans
Help feed the victims of Katrina, PLEASE DONATE HERE!
P.O. Box 424, Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 USA
505-776-3880
1-800-884-1136
menu@foodnotbombs.net
www.foodnotbombs.net