Your Chance to Help

I’ve often said that in writing this blog I would steer clear of all things political, religious or economical. Like they say, “Write what you know”. But in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I cannot with good conscience write about something as trivial as the MTV Awards. The devastation that has been left in the wake of this massive hurricane is so heartbreaking, I can barely watch the news. People have lost their homes, belongings, pets and even loved ones. Parents have lost their jobs and children have lost their schools. I can’t begin to fathom how they will get their lives back together. My thoughts for this week are brief: please open your hearts and pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Then open your wallet and make a donation to the American Red Cross. By making a donation to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can go directly to the Red Cross website or you can even donate via several websites, including Amazon.com or AmeriCares.org. You can even make a donation through iTunes (the program connected to your iPod). Please check out the links to the right of this page for easy access to these sites and to make a donation.

For those of you in the Monmouth County area, the MGAP (Merchants Guild of Asbury Park) is planning a city-wide fund-raiser to help pay for hurricane relief efforts on Saturday, October 8th. Participating merchants and restaurants will donate a portion of their sales that day with nightclubs hosting special entertainment to raise money. The merchants' group will offer a special pass that will allow entry into any participating club that night for a suggested donation. Local musicians will also volunteer their talents for the event. For more information visit www.asburyguild.com for continuous updates on the local relief effort.

Please donate whatever you can to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thanks for listening.