Operation Families for Katrina Aid: Here’s How Your
Children Can Help the Hurricane Victims
by Gary and Joy Lundberg
When
tragedy strikes we all feel driven to help in some way.
Not only do we want to give aid, but we also want our children
to find the peace and joy that comes from helping others
in distress. They see the news—the children crying, the
parents crying. They see the smiles that brighten their
faces when help arrives, and they want to be part of helping
those smiles happen. But sometimes we feel helpless as
to how our family can be part of the rescue.
Just
seven months ago we sent out a plea in an article we wrote
for Meridian Magazine to help the children of the Tsunami
in Sri Lanka. We were thrilled with the incredible outpouring
that took place as a result of that article. Tons of goods
were sent by generous caring Latter-day Saints and their
friends, and they were received by grateful Muslims, Buddhists,
Catholics and others caring for orphaned children in that
devastated land. Hundreds of smiles were seen on the faces
of these children the day the goods were delivered to their
camps and schools. Little did we know that seven months
later we would witness another kind of devastation in our
own country. Katrina hit us hard
and let us know how dependent we
are on each other right here at home, wherever home may
be.
The
Church Instructions
The
Church has issued a request for members to give generously
to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church to help the victims
of this hurricane. They encourage members to donate money
instead of goods for this cause. When we did the Tsunami
relief project we needed hygiene and children’s kits, along
with school supplies. The needs for this disaster have
changed from needing goods to needing funds. The Humanitarian
directors know what is needed and will use the funds to
purchase the appropriate goods, which will vary depending
on current needs.
Operation
Families for Katrina Aid
When
we give money we sometimes feel that it’s too easy and that
our children don’t experience the joy of giving like they
do when they participate in a hands-on project, such as
assembling kits. Even if we have already given money, we
can still help our children feel the joy of sacrifice by
organizing our own family fund raising project. To help
accomplish this goal we have organized Operation Families
for Katrina Aid. Here’s how it works:
1)
Hold a family council as soon as possible where you talk
about the hurricane and the resulting needs. Immediate action
is needed. We are suggesting September 30 or sooner as
a deadline for completion. It’s amazing how fast a project
can be organized and completed when the whole family is
involved. You may want to ask other families to join with
you in your project.
2)
Let your children know what our Church leaders have asked
us to do to help. Instructions are clear on the Church Web
site www.lds.org, Provident Living. In part it states:
Funds
are the immediate need. The Church often uses funds to purchase
supplies near affected areas.
All
are encouraged to pray for those who suffer as well as for
those providing relief. Funds may be provided to the Church
to support relief efforts by:
• Mailing a check to: Emergency Response
Fund, Welfare Services, 50 East North Temple Street, Room
701, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
• Donating online at LDS Humanitarian Services
Giving Site: http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welfare/0,7133,1325-1-9--cWELFAREPOSTER,00.html
• Donating to fast offerings or to the humanitarian
fund of the Church through your local ward.
• Calling 1-801-422-3945 (for credit cards)
or 1-801-240-7688 (for checks).
3)
Ask your children for ideas on how your family can raise
some money for the Humanitarian Fund. Help them understand
that even a small contribution will be helpful. Following
are a few ideas to consider.
•
Bake “Katrina Care Cookies” (any favorite recipe) and sell
them in the neighborhood, letting people know that all proceeds
will go to help the victims of the hurricane. Orders can
be taken over the phone.
•
Set up a lemonade and/or popcorn stand with a large sign
that says proceeds go to the hurricane victims. Be creative
by naming your drink “Katrina Quench” or your popcorn stand
“Poppin’ for Katrina Kids”. People who would not ordinarily
buy from a stand will likely be drawn to do so for this
cause.
•
If you have older children, make and tie a “Katrina Care
Quilt” of your own design and offer it for sale in the neighborhood
or your ward. Maybe orders could be taken for more quilts
and others could be enlisted to help make the quilts. If
children have a way to earn their own money or if they have
an allowance they can use some of it to help buy the materials.
The need right now is not so much for quilts as it is for
the money the quilts can make by selling them.
•
If you have musically talented children, put on a home “Katrina
Care Concert” and sell tickets, noting all proceeds go to
the hurricane victims. The stars do it, why can’t you.
Or maybe arrange with a store to play an instrument out
front where people can toss money into a violin case or
some container, like they do on the streets of New York.
•
Go door to door with a “Katrina Care Kettle”and ask for
donations to be placed in the kettle, explaining that all
money will be sent to your church Humanitarian Fund for
the victims. If they want to write a check
make it to LDS Humanitarian Services or Emergency
Response Fund (as noted on the Church site above). We suggest
you accompany your children and be ready to answer questions.
Make a handout flyer that explains your goal, if you wish.
If people prefer writing a check to the Red Cross, take
their donation and deliver it to your local Red Cross.
Church leaders encourage Red Cross support, if that is preferred.
•
Make and sell “Katrina Care Bracelets” out of beads or crocheted
string.
These
are just a few ideas to consider. Once
you and your family start thinking about it other ideas
will come to mind. As part of your family council
you could share a few scriptures about giving service, such
as Mosiah 2:17: “When ye are in the service of your fellow
beings ye are only in the service of your God..” Or the story of the good Samaritan,
Matt. 25:34-40. This will invite the Spirit into your planning.
Pray for the victims of the hurricane and ask the Lord to
help you know what to do that will be most helpful. The
Holy Ghost can be your guide as you go forth to help those
in need.
Report
Your Project
We
would like to track the participation in Operation Families
for Katrina Aid and ask that you email us at gjlundberg@yahoo.com
to let us know what your family project is and then follow
up by letting us know what your family was able to accomplish
and how it blessed your children. We can keep your names
private, if you wish, but request the name of your city
and state. No donations are to come to us, only to the Church
Humanitarian Fund or other humanitarian organizations.
By emailing us we can write a follow-up report in a future
Meridian article.
Through
participation in Operation Families for Katrina Aid your
children can then feel the peace and joy that comes from
hands-on helping when disaster strikes.
[For
more information on the Lundbergs and their work to help
strengthen families and marriages, visit their Web site
at http://www.garyjoylundberg.com.]
