Our thanks to...

This is another post that I will continue to update.

Our thanks go to the following, in no particular order.

- The Bailey's of Brainerd, MN.
- Sportbike Rider Picture website and it's webmaster.
- Pastors Mark Boone and Myron Gaul
- HL in New Jersey.
- Jennifer in the Twin Cities area, MN.
- Lewie's RV in Brainerd, MN.
- Our friends in the Bio-Diesel community.
- All those who have helped anonymously.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm going to keep adding to this post as questions come up.

- Is this a charity?
No. Not in the modern definition which is basically "A tax protected hole into which money is poured"
What we are is a group trying to organize and perform works of charity.
Our definition of charity is - "The act of obeying the Golden Rule"

- What is the Golden Rule?
Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.
or
Treat people the way you want to be treated.

- Why can't I just donate to {insert relief organization here}?
It's not the donating we have a problem with. You should do that. It's the just part that we have a problem with. You need to directly participate in relief efforts, ie do something.

-How do I know you will do what you say with donations and supplies?
Well, there are several ways. People have assumed that they cannot trust us without even bothering to contact us. If they had, we could have explained in more detail some of the options they have to protect themselves from a scam. Here's a short summary of a few of them. Contact us for more detailed info.

1. For the totally paranoid, join the partner program. We'll put you in direct contact with an organization in the hurricane zone and you can work with them directly. No risk to you. However this does defeat the purpose of Northern Dove which is to maximize resources and reduce waste and duplication of effort by working together with other members and letting us help coordinate.
2. See for yourself. We like this option. You not only donate needed items and or funds, but you send us volunteers to help distribute them. This is a great option because strong backs and helping hands are just as valuable and needed a resource as material items.
3. Standard method. Let us coordinate what you donate, and where and how to use it, and we will give you all the contact information for where it is used. You are then free to follow up as you see fit to see that the aid you provided arrived and was distributed as promised.

All members of Northern Dove already receive status reports on all of our efforts. A newsletter type report with details of our projects, names, places and organizations helped, with contact information, and photos and multimedia when possible. Every member is able to see and follow up on everything we do. All of our efforts are completely transparent to Northern Dove members. This information is not on this public blog.

- But my [church/company/etc.] already donated money, supplies, etc. or we have our own relief effort.
Great, good for you. However, this problem is huge, and ongoing. People will be displaced for months. The need will exist for a long time. Help is needed on more than a one time basis. As for your own relief effort, that's great too. However, if your effort joins Northern Dove, we can help you coordinate your efforts with others so that there is no duplication of effort and so more efficient use can be made of your help.

- What makes you think we haven't done enough?
Well, you be the judge.
What was the parking lot of your church like last weekend? Were the youth group washing cars or doing some other fund raiser or was it empty?
Were your seniors sorting donations brought in by your adults?
Has your Church arranged to have community hurricane relief drives?
Are there signs on the lawn "Drop off hurricane relief supplies here, call for our list of needed items."?
How about work? Are you organizing relief drives there?
Take a look at some smaller news sources that haven't focused their coverage all on New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi. Yes, these towns were tragic, but they are only a small portion of the vast area of devastation. And large areas of damage exist that need a lot of help still. Also there is plenty of damage from Rita as well. To make matters worse, the hurricane season is not over. And there are hundreds of other, less reported on, natural disasters every year.

Blog redo

The blog is being redone. It needs to be better organized, and less reading for people.
So posts after this one were all removed and will be edited, condensed, and reposted.

Thanks,
Northern Dove

Phase I - ready to roll

Ok everyone, it's time to build on our supply chain.

We need volunteers along this route to be links in our delivery and collection chains.

Everyone is welcome, Churches, scout troops, VFW halls, or just a group of friends that want to help.

If you are within range of this route, we really need your help. We need volunteers to collect from feeder organizations and make delivery to the distribution center (the end of the route) or at least to the next link in the chain.

Please note that anyone, anywhere is needed and welcome, however we particularly need help from people along this route urgently.

If you can't volunteer physically, then you can still make phone calls, tell friends, share this website, and especially donate funds.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to all of you who have already responded. Encourage your friends to help as well. We can do this, better, cheaper and faster. We just need to all pitch in and help.

Northern Dove

Volunteers Needed!

We need volunteer churches and groups to fill in our supply chain.
Please contact us at northerndove@rescueteam.com if you and/or your organization can help.

We also need your donations. Both financial and supplies.

Get started:

• get your church, scout troop, soccer team etc. to start organizing.
• contact us and let us get you in the chain
• raise money and contact us or use the "make donation" link on this page
• start cleaning out your closets of clothes you don't wear or don't fit and get them together
• collect water, non-perishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.
• volunteer to be a chain-link. Contact us if you can make calls, send e-mails, or faxes etc. for us.

Lets get rolling and help these people now!

Thanks so much,
NorthernDove

Getting ready!

We are currently rushing to get together our forward team.
The team will be working in the hurricane zone to evalutate and report needs back to the northern support group.