* Katrina Relief Efforts - Some of the Ways We Can Help *

* Katrina Relief Efforts - Some of the Ways We Can Help *

Responding to the largest natural disaster in US history -

(1) Local Castro-based efforts organized by Gary Virginia and Krewe
de Kinque

"Western Decadence" a relief benefit will be hosted on Labor Day,
Mon. Sept. 5, from 3-7pm at The Edge bar in the Castro. "Western
Decadence" will feature an optional $8 Beer/Soda Bust, barbecue,
entertainment and raffle. All proceeds will go to the American Red
Cross Disaster Relief Fund (tax exempt). To volunteer or donate
prizes, call Gary Virginia at (415) 626-5004. The Edge is located
at 4149 18th St., SF CA 94114.
****************************
(2) Rainbow World Fund's call for support going to America's Second
Harvest, a national organization described as the nation's foodbank
network. We are responding with food aid - donations through RWF
will go to our partner America's Second Harvest (ASH), the nation's
food bank network.

ASH is one of the most effective charities in the world. ASH expects
that at least ten food banks and hundreds of related agencies were
hit by Hurricane Katrina. Your donations will be used to provide
meals and groceries, transport food to survivors, and secure
additional warehouse space to assist food banks in resuming and
maintaining operations. 100% of the funds you donate to the RWF
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund will go toward helping the survivors
recover.

Donate at: http://www.rainbowfund.org/donate. Specify "Katrina" or
send a check to "Rainbow World Fund", PO Box 14480, San Francisco,
CA 94114.

Please help spread the word and forward this email to your friends
and families.
***********************
(3) Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean's call for volunteers &
support

Dear Fellow Democrat:

Donate to the Red Cross

Volunteer with the Red Cross

This week millions of Americans fled Hurricane Katrina. Across the
South families abandoned their homes and businesses, not knowing
what would be there when they returned.

Many stayed behind and suffered devastating loss and injuries -
nearly a hundred have died that we know of, and hundreds of
thousands need our help.

America is at its best when we realize that we are one community -
that we're all in this together. That means that each one of us has
the responsibility to do what we can to help the relief effort.

The Red Cross is a great place to start:

http://www.redcross.org

They are already moving people and resources into the region to
help.
Donations will provide clean water, food, and shelter for disaster
victims. The Red Cross web site also has important information for
victims and their relatives across the country.

Many local Red Cross chapters are organizing volunteers to travel to
affected areas -- doctors and nurses to provide medical care,
workers to build shelters, first responders to assist in rescue
operations.

You can find your local chapter here to learn what you can do:

http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

We are still learning the full story of the devastation, but there
is no time to wait. Please do something now.

Thank you.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.