DISASTER RELIEF

It has been heartening to see how many people across the nation have reponded to all the needs created by the recent devastating outbreaks of tornados in Oklahoma.  Moore, Oklahoma has received a great deal of media attention following the monster storm.  The communities of Shawnee and Harrah were struck on Sunday. Luther, Little Axe, Newcastle, south Oklahoma City, and Carney were hit Monday as part of the storm system that demolished Moore.

If you wish to make a donation by credit card or check that will be used 100% for the victims, go to the  Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Relief link.  Here is some information about about them.  You'll be assisting local people help local people.  Feel free to post this on your blog.

Another positive thing happened this morning.  I received the following email from Anna Doherty, Senior Marketing Manager of DonorsChoose.

Jill, Our team’s thoughts are with the people of Oklahoma. We hope you and your family are safe and sound in the wake of tornado. In the coming weeks, we’ll do whatever we can to help schools in Moore rebuild. We’ve created a page to collect donations for classrooms, and shared it with our Facebook and Twitter communities. If you have any other ideas for ways we can help in the coming weeks, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Again, we hope you and your loved ones are safe today. Sincerely, Anna   It speaks highly of this organization, headquartered in New York City, that reaches out to our Oklahoma teachers in crisis, as they did for Joplin's teachers.  They have already received over $21,000 already.  Please visit their page and pass the word. I just ran across this site listing online mental health resources for victims of  disasters.  It was put together by Dr. Sue Jacobs, associate professor of counseling psychology, of Oklahoma State University.  If any of my readers has contact with any of the victims or helpers from this (or future) disaster, please pass the information along.