Helping the people of New Orleans - Please Read

Hi gang!

This, to me, is the best spot on DU. And (quite likely) the best people on DU. Almost definitely the best cooks on DU. :)

Now that you're all buttered up ....... Sparkly and I had an idea that came to us as we were eating supper and watching the (horrible) news on teevee.

What, we asked, can **we** do to help the people in New Orleans.

Well ...... we're gunna do a New Orleans dinner. With our next door neighbors. Lotsa good, traditional 'N'awlins' eats.

Crawfish etoufee ..... red beans and rice ...... blackened red fish ..... awster schtew (oyster stew) ..... you get the idea.

We're gunna pay for the food.

We're gunna ask everyone who joins us to write a check to a charity engaged directly in relief for the people of New Orleans. In this area, $100 a couple seems appropriate. At the moment, I'm thinking of America's Second Harvest. I've developed programs with them in the past and they're good people .... and associated with the restaurant business.



http://www.secondharvest.org/

I share this idea with everyone here. Please think about how we can make a difference ..... and if you have other ideas, post 'em here.

I've never cooked this kind of food before ....Guess there 's no better time to learn. I'll be doing one of these dinners in a few weeks.

Got any good recipes?

to Lowe's and Costco where they'll be matched in goods folks can use.

Excellent idea.

At the check out the gal asked if I wanted to donate to the relief fund. Unfortunately, they're giving it to Red Cross (I'm still pissed at them) so I only gave a little bit. When I mentioned I was going to give to another relieft organization because I don't like the Red Cross, she & the boxer said they had heard that a lot.

I wish Costco had picked another relief organization, but I guess the Red Cross is the biggest & set up to handle disasters.

What a terrific idea of you & your DH.

best

why not just ask the people to donate?

We've sent checks to the Red Cross - no, not my favorite, either, but they do get the job done - and to the Teamsters, who get the job done even better when everyone else has gone home.

In honor of your generous plans, Husb2Sparkly, I'm giving you - and everyone else - the recipe for the real Ramos Gin Fizz, as won by my best friend's father, who was a real character, rest his glorious soul, who won it from Henry Ramos's grandson in a poker game in New Orleans a generation ago. (A hint - don't deviate at all from any of the instructions, especially the vanilla bean in the sugar - and only the named brands of liquor will work.)

Enjoy -

RAMOS GIN FIZZ

3 oz. Old Tom gin
2 oz. Hiram Walker Curacao
2 ox. fresh lemon and lime juice
2 tsps. vanilla sugar (bury a vanilla bean in a jar of confectioner’s sugar for about a month)
1 egg white
6 oz. whole milk
4 ice cubes

Blend.

Our neighbors and we are donating the food and giving money.

I don't think most of the country has any idea of the influx to Houston. It's not just the buses from the last day or so, but it's the people who have been coming in since late last Friday.

They're not just the bus travellers at the AstroDome, Reliant Center and Convention Center here, people are all over this city, everywhere!!

We live in a middle class to uppermiddle class area. We have an organization in our district that provides food and clothing to people who suddenly find themselves in need. Here's the numbers....on a VERY busy day, this organization would have about 30 people come in. This week, the AVERAGE has been 271 a DAY. These are evacuees that have made it to some of the hotels and motels in the neighborhood. We have a number of corporate offices around here, that would normally be the ones filling those rooms, now those rooms are filled with homeless. At least until their "room money" runs out. Lots of people here are taking them in and trying to help. Remember, these aren't the people you're seeing on TV, they're the ones who actually had cars and some money to get out over the weekend. But in one week, they're at the end of their money and they're looking at weeks, maybe months ahead.

Those 271 a day are not ones who've some homes taking them in. Those people are getting meals. It's people who are at the end of their rope and they're people who a week ago were in OUR shoes.

As for those being bused in, I only see what you do. I have a leg injury that is keeping me using a cane or off my feet and my husband is under doctor's orders to stay away from the people being brought in, due to his compromised immune system and the illnesses that are showing up at the Dome. So we're doing what we can from this "yuppie" enclave.

Christ, my stomach is in knots. I HATE the sight of the sociopath bastard. Never have I ever held such hate. Sorry for ranting here, but this feels like is a safe place.

Mary

:grouphug:

I'm sure that's from all of us. Surely its from Sparkly and me.

Your city wil be pressed for quite some time, I'm sure. Is there anything to which we can give that is directly involved in helping these people?