Given the amount of federal money and insurance money that's going to flow into that area, I think you are making a donation whether you want to or not...

Doesn't anyone else think it's kind of stupid to rebuild that city where it is now? It will just get hit again eventually. Since 80% of it is underwater, perhaps they could just start with a greenfield site farther north?

I was thinkink that trucking in strip=-mine tailings might make sense.

But, what I wrote to say is that we should call this effort 'Blog Aid.'

Believe it or not, I come from some hard core Mennonites myself (on one side of my family. Jehova’s Witnesses on the other. Does that explain a lot?)

I actually did some work with the MDS back in my college days. I guarantee that there will not be a penny wasted by these folks.

And the fit with Vodkapundit makes more sense than you might first believe. The Mennonites are probably the most libertarian leaning religion I have ever studied.

On the days when I believe in God (or just wish that I did), it’s the things I learned from my Mennonite grandparents that make the most sense to me, and give me the most comfort, and hope for mankind.

Give in confidence.

You can keep this post on top by changing the date/time on the post if you have that capability.

Thanks for posting that Stephen. I'm usually suspicious of charities with a few notable exceptions.
But I agree with you & jmaster, the Mennonites won't waste any doe on beauracracy and the money will go where it's needed.
In anycase, I hope folks reading your blog and many of the other blogs that have listed places to donate DO donate. I now know where I'll send my money.
Coincidentally, my wife's people are Mennonites too. What is it with these Mennonite decended women?

Will. Sorry that below I credited Stephen for the Mennonite information. I did send them a contribution and thank you for the tip. I normally don't give to any of the major charities knowing as I do that only a small percentage of the donations actually get to the intended target.

Will,

"New Orleanian level of weirdness" is a great way to put it.

I'd like to echo the comments that MDS knows what it's doing. I was raised Mennonite in southeast La. and am very thankful that my family's parish was (mostly) spared. My folks are back home as of yesterday—without power, but in an undamaged house. Our good fortune stands in stark contrast with the unbelievable destruction just across the river and my prayers are with the survivors.

I gave a donation to the Southern Baptist Relief. I read yesterday that they team up with the Red Cross and others to feed the masses of people who are displaced. I just had this vision of hundreds of Southern Baptist women strapping on aprons and heading out to cook chicken for 10,000 people. They really do need the help and they are legit. Instapundit links to them.

I actually hadn't heard of the MDS until last Friday when I saw pictures of them at the Johnstown Flood Museum in Pennsylvania, while my family and I were on vacation. They were helping clean up after the 1977 flood there. Now I guess they are going to help clean up my beloved city. God bless them.

I was raised Mennonite, and help out after the Xenia, Ohio, tornado back in '74.
I can also recommend MDS as an organization that operates without fluff, frills, and baggage.