Conscious Choice Seattle: Call to Citizenship

October 2005 | Evergreen Citizen

Call to Citizenship

Every month, we seek out a Seattle man or woman who personifies a new and improved definition of “citizenship.” We have spotlighted artists, businesspeople, nonprofit leaders, social activists and a City Councilman, among others.

For October we take a different tack. Look in the mirror. The Evergreen Citizen this month is…you; as in all of us who can send some of our hearts, checkbooks or open our households to those folks still struggling in the aftermath of Katrina.

To her credit, Gov. Chris Gregoire set up the Operation Evergreen Community Support hotline to guide Washington residents on how to best help. To state residents’ credit, Gregoire established the phone line because her office was inundated with offers of assistance. Call 800-941-2930 to reach a live person and learn about options. If you prefer searching on the Internet, start at www.ga.wa.gov and click on the Operation Evergreen banner ad.

The regions hit hard by Katrina will be in need for months, if not years. To help each of us redefine citizenship this month, here are resources catagorized for making Katrina donations and/or volunteering. Of course, places of faith and worship can be outlets in our communities, and are listed as well.

Donate Cash

American Red Cross, 800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) or send a check payable to The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 3097, Seattle, WA 98114-3097.

Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348

America’s Second Harvest, 800-344-8070

Food Lifeline, Western Washington’s affiliate of America’s Second Harvest: www.foodlifeline.org or 800-404-7543.

Donate Cash and/or Volunteer

Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA, 703 549-1390

Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 800-453-3860 ext. 26060

Church World Service, 800-297-1516

Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998

Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund: 202-606-6718

Feed the Children: 800-525-7575

Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210

MoveOn.org Civic Action: www.hurricanehousing.org enables the pubic to post any available housing for people left homeless. The organization will directly connect evacuees with volunteer hosts and also provide the housing information to the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886

Northwest Medical Teams: 800-959-4325. Mail to Northwest Medical Teams, 1920 116th Ave. N.E., Suite 201, Bellevue, WA 98004, www.nwmedicalteams.org. Donations can also be made at any US Bank office.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283

Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440

United Jewish Communities, 800-462-8657, Ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583

United Way of King County: Donate to the United Way’s Hurricane Katrina Response Fund: www.unitedwayofkingcounty.org. Send checks to: United Way of America, P.O. Box 630568, Baltimore, MD 21263-0568. Write “Hurricane Katrina Fund” on the memo line.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is coordinating a grassroots effort on behalf of members from within the African American community, www.urbanleague.org

World Concern, www.worldconcern.org or 800-755-5022, Ext. 0

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