Seeing Rotarians Help Victims of Hurricane Harvey Reminds Me Why I Am in Rotary our neighbors to the east are facing a natural disaster of epic proportions right now.
Some experts have estimated that Harvey could be the single costliest storm this country has ever faced, and thousands of residents are waking up this morning huddled in
storm shelters, not sure what (if anything) remains for them to come home to. Members of Rotary are often the first to ask, "How can I help?" It warms my heart to have heard
from so many of you, wanting to know how best you could make a difference in these devastated parts. We have just launched a new web portal to provide ways to support
Harvey relief efforts. I am also very pleased to announce the launch of the Rotary District 5340 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) designed specifically to support disaster relief efforts like
those taking place in Texas and Louisiana. Starting today, the 5340 Foundation is collecting donations that will support the American Red Cross and ShelterBox. Donations you
make to the 5340 Foundation can be earmarked for the charity of your choice (e.g. 100% to one, 50% to both) or they can be used to help fund our response to future disasters,
all while keeping future fundraising solicitations to an absolute minimum. Several Rotary districts have also mobilized and provided information on emergency relief funds that they
have setup. Our new web portal can help sort through the options to support these individual efforts directly. Please check harvey.rotary5340.org often, as we will be posting update
s right there on how Rotarians are supporting the relief efforts that are just now beginning. While it has been downgraded as a storm, Harvey still remains a threat, and the clean-up
has not even begun in many parts of the region. Just this morning, new reports emerged of a chemical plant exploding due to loss of power, and oil storage tanks toppling over from the
floodwaters, releasing thousands of gallons of oil into the environment. The need for help is great, and I am heartened by the outpouring of support our District has shown.
Rotarians are truly People of Action. Let's put our words into action, and start helping these individuals begin to reclaim their lives.
Thank you very much,
Scott Carr District Governor 2017-18
has not even begun in many parts of the region. Just this morning, new reports emerged of a chemical plant exploding due to loss of power, and oil storage tanks toppling over from the
floodwaters, releasing thousands of gallons of oil into the environment. The need for help is great, and I am heartened by the outpouring of support our District has shown.
Rotarians are truly People of Action. Let's put our words into action, and start helping these individuals begin to reclaim their lives.
Thank you very much,
Scott Carr District Governor 2017-18
P.S.
Many Rotarians have also asked how they can help provide donations of items, including necessities like clothing, blankets, and more. Many of the highways
right now resemble lakes (click here to see how bad it really is). When those roads dry out, our challenge will be logistics, transporting these goods to the area
s where they are needed most. If you have ideas or leads on how we could transport these items, please email me directly at scarr@rotary5340.org.
Many Rotarians have also asked how they can help provide donations of items, including necessities like clothing, blankets, and more. Many of the highways
right now resemble lakes (click here to see how bad it really is). When those roads dry out, our challenge will be logistics, transporting these goods to the area
s where they are needed most. If you have ideas or leads on how we could transport these items, please email me directly at scarr@rotary5340.org.