First of all, if you have yet to participate in this effort, put together by two very fabulous knitters, please go to the Red Cross Site now and donate.  Then, let them know you donated and they will put you in a drawing to win fabulous knitterly prizes!  It’s a win win situation people!

The best way to help is by contributing money.  That is the most efficient way that they can get the goods and services needed to the evacuees.  I have seen the desire by some knitters who have already donated monetarily to do more.  I know some people don’t have much money readily available but may have other items that could help Katrina Evacuees.  Since I live in Houston, where many thousands of the evacuees are currently living, I thought I’d offer people the opportunity to send donations to me and I can distribute them to one of the organizations listed below.  You get to choose which organization and I can even take pictures of your goods at the donation site if you’d like.  I’m sure many of these organizations will take donations by mail, as well, but sending them my way may cut down on the work they are doing to process donations.  Here are some opportunities for donations…

Items for American Red Cross Shelters:

• Toiletry Items
• Towels
• Blankets
• Sheets and Bedding
• Clothing
• Disposable Diapers
• Games and Toys

Donations for the Houston Food Bank:

• Paper goods
• Cleaning supplies
• Single serving snacks
• Peanut butter
• Heat and eat foods
• MRE’s
• Baby formula
• Personal hygiene products

Additionally, the Houston SPCA is currently housing hundreds of animals impacted by this Hurricane and working with other shelters to house those they may not have room for.  You may not have any of the items above available, but you might have some acrylic stash yarn that would work well for a blanket for one of the shelters.  You can also click the link above to see other items they are requesting and ways you can donate monetarily to the animals of Katrina.

Finally, area school districts are gathering school supplies for children who will be attending Texas schools.  There’s a "we’ve got your back" drive as well as a general school supply drive going on.  There is information at that link with an address and details on what to send.  If you don’t want to stuff a backpack, but want some things to be taken to an area school, let me know.

Basically, I’m just looking for more ways to help and if this looks like something that would help you contribute to the enormous effort being made by American citizens to assist Katrina victims, then I’d love to help.  Please email me at onestitchshort@yahoo.com or leave a comment if you’d like to send something my way and I can give you more details on where to send it, etc.  Thanks!