Disaster Relief

I agree with the members who feel that the best way is to help by supporting those organizations that are designed to do this.

Having said that, I also understand the desire by local interests to do more.

The answer is to support members that belong to your division and suport those organizations that are designed for disaster relief.

I think that if affected Kiwanis Clubs would post their needs on the KI site, other clubs could help by volunteering or donating goods.

Here in NY we have started a disaster relief fund and when disaster strikes, we contact Kiwanis clubs in that area and figure out what they need and get it shipped down to them.  It has been very successful so far.  We put the goods in the hands of Kiwawnians in the affected areas and they distribute it to those in need.

I believe we should support the organizations that are designed to handle the relief efforts.

We are primarily dedicated to helping children, and are not a disaster relief organization.  Let the organizations that are equipped and set up to move in immediately do so.  They know how to set up to help and allocate funds to the truly needy ... we would not.   Wait ... then as needs that concern children in the area are made known, contact clubs and the KIF and address those needs.

Hi there, I am the faculty advisor for Sulphur High and 9th Grade Campus here in Sulphur Louisiana and my Key Club and Kiwanis family WILL be helping out any families or businesses that need us.  We have so many familes whose homes have flooded and have to strip carpet, remove furniture, tear walls down etc. and we're just waiting to hear when to begin.

We should support our local  Disaster Relief  organizations before and after the disasters.  They are better prepared and have  guidelines in place. But they can't be prepared unless we support them.

When I read some of the comments posted here I am surprised and somewhat disappointed  in my fellow Kiwanians. If you have never lived through a disaster (hurricane, flood, tornado,etc) you can count yourself fortunate. As one who has lived through all three plus the bombing of the Federal Building in Okla. City I can attest to the importance of volunteers. A short time ago (2001-2002) the Texas/Oklahoma District was contacted by the Salvation Army (one of their officers was a member of a club in Austin, Tx) and suggested that we, the Kiwanis District, consider a partnership addressing volunteers for disaster relief. It made sense to us and during the past several years hundreds of Kiwanins have taken the required training and "answered the call" from Florida across the Southern part of the U.S. to the recent Gulf Coast area of S.E. Texas. In addition, through the efforts of many memberswith their club fund raisers etc, we were able to purchase a mobile canteen that proudly displays the Kiwanis logo as well as the Salvation Army logo. When it comes to disasters our Kiwanis International Foundation and members across the world (yes I said world) respond and believe me you will never know how much it means until it happens to you or your community. Think about it the next time there is a disaster. If you don't know where to send relief ask our Internation office.

Partnering with those agencies that provide disaster relief is the best thing a Kiwanis Club can do.  Our division partnered with the local American Red Cross and they help us put on an annual safety/disaster preparedness fair (Our Total One day project).  The Salvation Army knows of children that need our help- Mervyn's ChildSpree is a big event that we work with SA on-  And.....  they are PEOPLE who VOLUNTEER!!!  Why not ask them to join the club????