I have 'almost new', clean, well labeled by item, type, size, etc.
clothing packed in new plastic tubs.
I would like to donate to the hurricane victims.

Question: Who will take these items and will make sure the get where
they could used.

I am in Tallahassee, Florida, and I am willing to drive west.

Dear wvsr-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. Most relief organizations are encouraging cash donations but
there is some need for serviceable clothing in some areas:

I recommend you first contact the Capital Area Chapter of the Red
Cross who can direct you to a place where your clothing donation will
be accepted and forwarded to the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

American Red Cross
Capital Area Chapter
187 Office Plaza Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32301
 
E-mail: info@capitalareafl.redcross.org
 
Phone: 850-878-6080
 
Fax: 850-878-3441
 
Web site: http://www.capitalareafl.redcross.org

You can also call the volunteer hotline for directions for making a
clothing donation in your area:   Volunteer Hotline 894-6735

The area located closest to you that was badly affected by Hurricane
Katrina is probably Pensacola, Florida. If you prefer to actually
transport your own goods so they will be physically dropped off in an
affected area that can put your items to use, you can contact one of
the Northwest Florida Chapter Red Cross locations here (I recommend
calling in advance before just heading out for Pensacola unannounced):

NORTHWEST FLORIDA RED CROSS
http://northwestflorida.redcross.org/

Chapter Headquarters
1741 N. Palafox Street
Pensacola, Fl 32501
Telephone (850) 432-7601
Fax (850) 432-0315
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=1741%2BN.%2BPalafox&csz=Pensacola%2C%2BFL%2B32501&Get%A0Map=Get%2BMap

Okaloosa County
4100 S Ferdon Blvd, Suite B2
Crestview, FL 32536
Telephone (850) 682-3356
Map: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/maps/extmap;_ylt=AlzGDqvtls5qtq.F6zHAPbdkDLMF/*-http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=4100+S+Ferdon+Blvd&csz=Crestview%2C+FL+32536-5252&state=FL&uzip=32536&ds=n&name=&desc=&lat=30.718303&lon=-86.569718&mlt=30.718303&mln=-86.569718&zoomin=yes&BFKey=&mag=2

Santa Rosa County
Milton Community Center
5629 Byrom Street
Telephone (850) 626-7333
Fax (850) 626-7580
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=ShHLCOp_0TpUgFkdPwsWJRFQnmQrtEvCzIE-&csz=Milton,%2BFl%2B32570&country=us

Walton County
1590 US Hwy., 331 South
DeFuniak Springs, Fl 32435
Telephone (850) 892-6297
Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=mqnF6ep_0TqW9tYzGutOhdC5nhGjUEXU_iIei6QGK.0-&csz=DeFuniak+Springs%2C+Fl+32435&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=

As I said, many of the relief organizations are discouraging clothing
donations AT THE MOMENT and are asking for cash donations instead.
However, being a member of a law enforcement agency myself I can tell
you that many of the local shelters housing evacuees are in fact
pleading with the public to bring clothing items directly to the
shelters (my state has 10,000 evacuees and the number is growing).
Contact your local police departments, church organizations, radio
stations or newspapers to find out what groups are transporting or
arranging trasnport of goods directly to victims, and deliver your
items to those folks. In my opinion this is the best way to ensure
that your clothing contribution will be delivered directly into the
hands of a needy victim you intend it for, short of taking it to a
shelter yourself. I don't recommend it but if you?re determined to go
to a shelter yourself you can look up some shelter locations nearest
you with this map powered by, who else? GOOGLE:

KATRINA SHELTER
http://www.katrinashelter.com.

I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher


OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES




SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINES USED:

Google ://www.google.com




SEARCH TERMS USED:


Clothing 

Contributions

Donations

Shelter

Katrina

Hurricane

Red cross

Florida

---

Request for Answer Clarification by wvsr-ga on 10 Sep 2005 01:10 PDT

Your answer was helpful in regard to confirm the need for such items. 

But the reason I used Google Answer was so someone would give me some
actual contact names or places. Your answer left me still no place to
go without further 'research'. for example: katrinashelter.com is a
great website but all the locations shelters house very each small
numbers. I have women clothing of large sizes and feel I need a large
distribution base (location) for the items to be utilized.

If that level of research needs more money let me know.

I was aware of the Red Cross; they repeatedly ask for ?cash only? and
give very good reasons.

If you have a specific contact person at the Rea Cross or know of an
other organization or church.

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 10 Sep 2005 06:34 PDT

A great resource for those of you who want to cut out the middleman
and mail-in, or take in donations directly to places that are equipped
to handle/distribute them.

Katrina - IF YOU WANT TO HELP :: Where to send goods/supplies
http://wheretosenddonationsforkatrina.blogspot.com/

You will certainly find others using this source but here are a few
I?ve managed to ferret out for you:

First Baptist Church
529 Convention Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

LSU PETE MARAVICH ASSEMBLY CENTER
TEMP. HOSPITAL (KATRINA)
NORTH STADIUM DRIVE
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Alamo Premier Mortgage Group
10223 McAllister Freeway, Suite 200
San Antonio 78216
(SW corner of 281 and Isom Road)

 New Frontiers Charter School
4018 South Presa Street
San Antonio 78223

Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter 
419 Dowling St.
Houston TX 77002 
Phone: 713-222-2220


I recommend however that you donate through a major relief
organization who is in close touch with the ever changing needs of
these evacuees and the various shelters (whose locations may or may
not always be publicized).

You can get a great deal of information about where the most feasible
and appropriate place is to make a sizeable contribution such as
yours. Keep in mind that needs are changing daily so what you learn on
Monday might not necessarily be the case on We4dnesday. This is why it
is so important to go through an agency and not try to act on your
own; lest your well intentions be put at risk of becoming
unnecessarily wasted effort.

VOLUNTEER FLORIDA.ORG
http://www.volunteerflorida.org
VOULNTEER FLORIDA ? donations update
http://www.volunteerflorida.org/pdfs/donationsupdate.pdf


Important Note: As I mentioned, at this time, most relief agencies are
not collecting clothing items for victims of the storm. There are more
pressing issues at hand and the logistics are not yet in place to
accept hundreds of tons of clothing that would surely come in. Due to
the lack of a distribution system and a central location to send
items, GOODWILL is not even collecting clothing for victims of the
storm, and that is almost unheard of. It may actually be prudent to
wait a bit before trying to put your noble contribution to use, just
to be sure that it get to its intended destination.

I realize you are eager to help and this is probably not what you had
hoped to hear, but I?d be less than honest if I told you otherwise and
I?d be doing a disservice to more than just you. The fact is, the
dynamics of this relief effort are changing almost by the hour and at
present relief organizations are NOW asking people to wait before
trying to contribute large collections of clothing.

Tutuzdad-ga