Independent Online Edition > Gap Year: "Charity Work: It's never too late to lend a hand
If you want to help out following a disaster overseas, or if you're in need of a constructive year out, volunteering opportunities are open to all. Kirsten Downer reports
Published: 17 November 2005
Are you stuck in a rut and looking for a change? Fed up of seeing hungry, impoverished faces on your TV screen and want to do something to help? Perhaps you've considered volunteering overseas but ruled it out because you thought you were too old, couldn't commit enough time, or have a family. If so, think again.
'Over the past five years it has become far safer - and more professionally acceptable - to take up a job volunteering overseas,' says David Stitt, managing director of Gap Year for Grown Ups, a company catering for volunteers in their late 20s and upwards. 'Whereas 10 years ago intrepid souls took financial and personal risks in volunteering abroad, now several organisations exist to make the experience secure and well-organised.'
Nowadays, universities and businesses encourage overseas volunteering among students and employees.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
FEMA Gives Hurricane Evacuees Extra Month - Yahoo! News
FEMA Gives Hurricane Evacuees Extra Month - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON - Stung by complaints it was pushing hurricane victims out before the holidays, FEMA extended its hotel housing program Tuesday by a month in 10 states where most of the homeless evacuees sought shelter after Katrina and Rita.
More than 46,000 families in those states now have until Jan. 7 to move out of hotels and into travel trailers, mobile homes or apartments until they find permanent homes. The deadline comes much sooner — Dec. 15 — for 3,500 other households scattered nationwide, before the
Federal Emergency Management Agency stops paying their hotel bills."
More than 46,000 families in those states now have until Jan. 7 to move out of hotels and into travel trailers, mobile homes or apartments until they find permanent homes. The deadline comes much sooner — Dec. 15 — for 3,500 other households scattered nationwide, before the
Federal Emergency Management Agency stops paying their hotel bills."
The Seattle Times: Opinion: Surviving FEMA's cold shoulder
The Seattle Times: Opinion: Surviving FEMA's cold shoulder: "Surviving FEMA's cold shoulder
The old expression of moving one step forward and two steps back sums it up nicely for the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
After a hapless initial response in which federal and local officials bumped heads and dropped balls like a Three Stooges routine, assistance has flowed to the hundreds of thousands displaced by the worst natural disasters in our history.
Now we're falling backward and the people who can least afford the lapse will pay the price. The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to end hotel payments to hurricane victims by Dec. 15 and rent subsidies by March. The agency that kept its inept leader, Michael Brown, on the payroll long past his pull date now wants to pinch pennies?
The majority of hurricane evacuees are not back in their homes. Many will never go back. Their existence currently entails navigating new cities, temporary housing and finding work. Federal officials don't deny this reality but instead point to state and local governments to pick up the task of assisting evacuees."
The old expression of moving one step forward and two steps back sums it up nicely for the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
After a hapless initial response in which federal and local officials bumped heads and dropped balls like a Three Stooges routine, assistance has flowed to the hundreds of thousands displaced by the worst natural disasters in our history.
Now we're falling backward and the people who can least afford the lapse will pay the price. The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to end hotel payments to hurricane victims by Dec. 15 and rent subsidies by March. The agency that kept its inept leader, Michael Brown, on the payroll long past his pull date now wants to pinch pennies?
The majority of hurricane evacuees are not back in their homes. Many will never go back. Their existence currently entails navigating new cities, temporary housing and finding work. Federal officials don't deny this reality but instead point to state and local governments to pick up the task of assisting evacuees."
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Legislature wraps up special session on hurricane recovery
Legislature wraps up special session on hurricane recovery: "Legislature wraps up special session on hurricane recovery
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Lawmakers worked into the final hours of a special legislative session Tuesday to rebalance Louisiana's deficit-riddled budget, complete a tax break package to entice businesses back to hurricane-damaged areas and hammer out the final provisions of a new statewide building code to prevent future devastation."
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Lawmakers worked into the final hours of a special legislative session Tuesday to rebalance Louisiana's deficit-riddled budget, complete a tax break package to entice businesses back to hurricane-damaged areas and hammer out the final provisions of a new statewide building code to prevent future devastation."
Reuters AlertNet - Church World Service Leader Tells Top Donor Countries, "Make Pledges Real Now" to Save Pakistan Quake Survivors
Reuters AlertNet - Church World Service Leader Tells Top Donor Countries, "Make Pledges Real Now" to Save Pakistan Quake Survivors: "Church World Service-USA
Website: http://www.churchworldservice.org
NEWS UPDATE
NEW YORK - Fri Nov 18 – Following United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Pakistan yesterday for this weekend’s International Donor Conference, the humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is heightening its call to the international community to back the UN with swift delivery of promised funds for ongoing emergency aid, reconstruction and sustainable rehabilitation in the earthquake devastated region.
Church World Service Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough, who visited Pakistan last week, says, “The job is far from over. The first snow fell in Kashmir this past week. Without immediate and major funds for food, for further shelter and medical aid, winter and disease will conspire to produce significan"
Website: http://www.churchworldservice.org
NEWS UPDATE
NEW YORK - Fri Nov 18 – Following United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Pakistan yesterday for this weekend’s International Donor Conference, the humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is heightening its call to the international community to back the UN with swift delivery of promised funds for ongoing emergency aid, reconstruction and sustainable rehabilitation in the earthquake devastated region.
Church World Service Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough, who visited Pakistan last week, says, “The job is far from over. The first snow fell in Kashmir this past week. Without immediate and major funds for food, for further shelter and medical aid, winter and disease will conspire to produce significan"
The Pueblo Chieftain Online -Phys ed philanthropy
The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Pueblo, Colorado U.S.A: "Phys ed philanthropy
CSU-Pueblo athletes extend generosity to hurricane victims
By GAYLE PEREZ
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
When 11-year-old Sarah Lacoste opened the door to her family's Belmont apartment Monday morning, she knew her good deed was being repaid.
Days ago, the Heaton Middle School sixth-grader took a few canned goods from the family's pantry to donate to a food drive at school.
'Remember when you asked what I was doing taking the food to school,' she told her mother, Jennifer Lacoste. 'I told you it would come back to us.'"
CSU-Pueblo athletes extend generosity to hurricane victims
By GAYLE PEREZ
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
When 11-year-old Sarah Lacoste opened the door to her family's Belmont apartment Monday morning, she knew her good deed was being repaid.
Days ago, the Heaton Middle School sixth-grader took a few canned goods from the family's pantry to donate to a food drive at school.
'Remember when you asked what I was doing taking the food to school,' she told her mother, Jennifer Lacoste. 'I told you it would come back to us.'"
Monday, November 21, 2005
USATODAY.com - Katrina shelves gifts to food banks
USATODAY.com - Katrina shelves gifts to food banks: "Katrina shelves gifts to food banks
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY
As Hurricane Katrina donations reach near-record levels, some food banks in the USA are seeing bare shelves as they prepare for Thanksgiving and winter.
Chris Cunningham works at the Idaho Food Bank, where demand is up for Thanksgiving, but donations are expected to be less. Chris Cunningham works at the Idaho Food Bank, where demand is up for Thanksgiving, but donations are expected to be less.
By Troy Maben, AP
Food donations are down 12% in Los Angeles, 30% in New York City and more than 50% in Milwaukee and Denver, according to America's Second Harvest network, which accounts for 80% of the nation's food banks for the needy."
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY
As Hurricane Katrina donations reach near-record levels, some food banks in the USA are seeing bare shelves as they prepare for Thanksgiving and winter.
Chris Cunningham works at the Idaho Food Bank, where demand is up for Thanksgiving, but donations are expected to be less. Chris Cunningham works at the Idaho Food Bank, where demand is up for Thanksgiving, but donations are expected to be less.
By Troy Maben, AP
Food donations are down 12% in Los Angeles, 30% in New York City and more than 50% in Milwaukee and Denver, according to America's Second Harvest network, which accounts for 80% of the nation's food banks for the needy."
Journal Gazette | 11/21/2005 | Do-gooder companies help themselves
Journal Gazette | 11/21/2005 | Do-gooder companies help themselves: "Do-gooder companies help themselves
By David Ranii
Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer
Enlightened self-interest has its benefits.
The nation’s businesses aren’t philanthropic organizations. Yet, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, corporate America has contributed an estimated $1 billion and counting to benefit the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“Katrina is the fastest outpouring of aid ever,” said Stephen Jordan, executive director of the chamber’s Center for Corporate Citizenship."
By David Ranii
Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer
Enlightened self-interest has its benefits.
The nation’s businesses aren’t philanthropic organizations. Yet, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, corporate America has contributed an estimated $1 billion and counting to benefit the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“Katrina is the fastest outpouring of aid ever,” said Stephen Jordan, executive director of the chamber’s Center for Corporate Citizenship."
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