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![Previous (earlier) Story](/images/sty-down.gif "Federal Government Grant to "Ham Aid" Will Support Katrina Response"){kind=small} Previous: Federal Government Grant to "Ham Aid" Will Support Katrina Response |  Next: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately? |
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
September 2, 2005
This week, we pitch in and try to help the victims of one of the worst natural disasters in US history.
I don't know about you, but I have had a difficult time concentrating this week. My thoughts keep returning to the situation down South.
One of our best vacations was when we toured the Deep South by automobile in the mid-1970s. The highlight of that roadtrip was three days in New Orleans. What a great city! We enjoyed the culture, the architecture, the food, and especially the people.
 American Red Cross is one of the relief groups accepting donations to provide help for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. |
Now, I feel so bad after what has happened there this week. And the bad news just keeps on coming and it seems to be getting worse, rather than improving.
To rub salt into the wounds, the local newspaper ran an editorial asking if New Orleans was worth reclaiming. I was outraged by the editorial. Has the editor no shame? I don't know how long the link will last; maybe the newspaper will be so ashamed that it will pull the editorial, but here it is anyway.)
Yes, New Orleans and the rest of the devastated region is worth reclaiming. It will take a long time to heal the wounds that the hurricane caused, but if we all pull together and lend a hand, the stricken communities will become thriving communities again and will overcome this tragedy.
How do we pull together and help? It's a given that Amateur Radio operators are ready to lend assistance by providing communications wherever needed (check out the latest news at the ARRLWeb to see what is going on in that regard). But right now, relief agencies are primarily asking for monetary donations with which they can purchase food and water for the hurricane's refugees.
We have to help. This is not a time to sit back and let George do it. We must pitch in and make donations. People are dying on the streets as I write this; we can't wait. Should you wish to make a donation, please consider giving to one of the following groups (or to any others that I missed):
Until next week, keep on surfin'.
Editor' note: If you wish, you can write to Stan at wa1lou@arrl.net or visit his Web site where you can leave him a note.
| Previous: Federal Government Grant to "Ham Aid" Will Support Katrina Response | Next: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately? |
