The Clock is Ticking

Time is Running Out

As is sadly the case with longer-term, chronic disaster relief needs, out of sight is often out of mind. According to the Houston Chronicle, donations supporting recovery efforts in the Texas Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike are dwindling. The United Way of Greater Houston had raised close to $6 million for its hurricane efforts. It has stopped raising funds and is currently focused on longer-term human service needs.  The Gulf Coast Ike Fund expects that by March it will have distributed all of the close to $12 million it has raised for emergency and short-term needs and will close its doors. The Bush-Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund is the only remaining entity still actively raising funds; however, its aid assistance focuses on rebuilding public infrastructure, not on the needs of families and small businesses. Charitable giving to support disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Ike was hindered by the timing of the financial crisis, with Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy two days after Ike struck the Gulf Coast. With the financial markets in crisis, charitable giving across all sectors has slowed, although the needs remain acute.

To help address these needs, I will be partnering with chapters of the American Red Cross to speak at events at Borders Bookstores in their local communities, with 10% of all sales during those time periods to be donated to the Red Cross. These events will take place in March, National Red Cross Month. As the dates are confirmed, I will post them on this site.