Donations for victims of Katrina

Guys,

I received this email today from a company whose software I've used in the past. They're a small company that creates web editing software. It arrived just as I was trying to figure out to which charity I wanted to donate to help the victims of hurricane Katrina. This is a difficult decision to make because it's hard to know for sure exactly how your money is being used when you donate to a charity. Some honestly put the funds toward legitimate uses to help others, and some do not. It's often hard to tell which is which.

At least with this approach, you can know that you're sending items that can really only be used for one purpose. It's not likely that a group would solicit donations of razors and toothpaste in order to fill their own medicine cabinets...especially at a time like this. I also support this effort because I can be reasonably certain that this is not a charity that receives public funds, putting it exactly where it belongs...in the realm of people helping people.

I plan to pack a big box full of stuff to send to these folks, and I hope that you'll consider doing the same. You may not choose to send your donation to CoffeeCup, but if you do donate, I urge you to do some research and find a charity that will put your donation to the use for which you intend it.

Here's the email I received:

Hello,
As many of you know CoffeeCup Software is a socially active company. In the past our users have raised over 1 million dollars for September 11th efforts and over $50,000 dollars for vistims of the Asian Tsunami.

Hurricane Katrina has given us a different challenge. We have accessed the situation and have found a way we can all help. Since CoffeeCup Software is located in Corpus Christi, Texas (a couple of hours south of Houston), we are calling upon anyone who receives this e-mail to send 'Goods' to our office. This will directly help the thousands upon thousands of American refugees that will be entering Houston, Beaumont, and througout Texas within the next days and weeks.

Our office will collect what you send and will drive these items by cargo truck to the refugees where they are located. Over 25,000 people will arrive at the Houston Astrodome tonight and we expect many waves of refugees over the next month. We will collect items for the next 60 days and will make trips once a week or more as needed.

Currently many Charitable organizations are overwhelmed and we want to make sure the Families and Children will be given what they really need without wait. Send as much as you wish, we have plenty of storage.

Some items we believe they need are:

Diapers, Baby Wipes, Infant Care Items
Personal Care Items (soap, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, hygeine items) Clothing (socks, underwear, shirts, shoes, pants, shirts) Long Distance Calling Cards, Batteries, FM Radios, Walkie-Talkies Toys (coloring books, crayons, puzzles, any activity toy) and more....

Our
Address is:

CoffeeCup Software
c/o Hurricane Aid
226 South Tancahua
Street
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

You can also order things online at places like Amazon.com, WalMart.com, Target.com, and others and have them sent directly to our offices as well.

Please do not send food, water, or money. This will be handled by Organized Charities. Send what you would personally want if you were placed in a very uncomfortbale position for a very
long time with little or no money (use your best judgement). We will be documenting our efforts by Web Cam and Pictures and these will be posted on our Website soon.

If you would like to Donate money you can do that
here:
http://www.houstonredcross.org/ or http://national.unitedway.org/
"We make a
living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
- Sir Winston
Churchill

Thank you so very much again,
Nick Longo
CEO
CoffeeCup Software, Inc.
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www.coffeecup.com