Everything And Nothing

Donations for North Mississippi Tornado Victims

Mississippians come together in times of need.  Donations, checks, and contributions may be made to the following organizations and communities, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office:   

MEMA

• Donate online at www.msdisasterresponse.org

Tippah County

Send contributions for disbursement to the needy citizens to:

• Walnut Fire Department, 27880 MS Hwy 15,Walnut, MS 38683 or
• Three Forks Community Disaster Relief Fund, The People’s Bank, Attn: David Horton, P.O. Box 38, Walnut, MS 38683

Send contributions for rebuilding the Three Forks Fire Department building to: 

• Three Forks VFD Building Fund, The People’s Bank, Attn: David Horton, P.O. Box 38, Walnut, MS 38683

Marshall County

• Drop off supplies at Eddie Smith Multipurpose Center, 235 N. Memphis St., Holly Springs, MS 38635 or First Baptist Church, Volunteer Reception Center, 109 East College St., Holly Springs, MS 38635 (open from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.)

Coahoma County

• Drop off supplies at the Civic Auditorium, 506 East 2^nd St., Clarksdale, MS 38614

Tate County

• Drop off supplies at Senatobia Fire Station #1, 137 N. Front St., Senatobia, MS 38668 
• Suggested items: water, non-perishable foods, blankets, diapers, dog food, personal hygiene items, batteries and flashlights

Benton County

• Drop off supplies at Ashland Church of Christ, 47 Hwy 4 West, Ashland, MS 38603

American Red Cross

• Donate by calling 1-800-REDCROSS
• Donate online at http://www.redcross.org/local/mississippi
• Drop off donations at 9 River Bend Pl., Flowood, MS 30232

Salvation Army

• Donate by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Donate online at https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=national_donation_form

 

B.B. King to Chair Cotton Pickers of America and Sharecroppers Interpretative Center

B.B. King has replaced Maya Angelou as the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cotton Pickers of America and Sharecroppers Interpretative Center - an effort to build a monument in the Mississippi Delta to honor cotton pickers.

Khafre, Inc, based in Indianola, Mississippi, began the effort in 2009 to build the complex to say thanks to those who helped build the cotton empire that fueled the American economy for nearly two centuries., says C. Sade Turnipseed, founder and executive director.

The monument will be 25-feet tall and will be located on 20 acres of cotton fields along Highway 61.

"The Cotton Pickers Monument Complex would not only help heal wounds that have festered for decades, but would also help to empower the generations of family members who have been negatively impacted by this unfortunate era in American history," Khafre said in a statement. "By embracing the shared history of many races and individuals from different social classes, it is Khafre, Inc's sincerest hope and deeply held conviction that this monument/educational center will help bridge deep racial divisions and distrust through education, outreach and recognition of the strength of the human soul. This is truly a historic endeavor that has the rare opportunity of actually transforming lives, communities, and the conversations about race in America and throughout the world."

Khafre, Inc. held weekly sessions throughout this summer to gather memories and oral histories from people with roots in the Delta, especially older African-Americans with first-hand knowledge of work in the cotton fields. If you missed a session, you can add your oral history online here.

If you're interested in helping, you can donate here. To support the cause, you can also buy a miniature of the statue and legacy bricks in the plaza. The group is also accepting art, artifacts, or literary works for inclusion in the soon-to-be-released anthology, The Cotton Pickers of America.

Recycle cards year-round through St. Jude's Ranch

Instead of throwing out old greeting cards, send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, an organization that cares for children who have been neglected, abandoned or abused. They have been collecting the cards for more than 30 years. The kids reattach the front of the card to a new card that is then sold in retail establishments to benefit the home. The kids learn work skills and are paid a salary for their efforts.

Here are some important points to remember, though, according to Hints from Heloise:

• They accept cards yearround.
• They need all types of greeting cards (thank-you cards, birthday cards, holiday cards, all-occasion cards, Easter cards, etc.)
• Only the front of a card is used. Please make sure there is no writing on the card.
• Hallmark, Disney, and American Greetings cards cannot be accepted.
• Sizes of 5 inches by 7 inches and smaller are best.

Mail the card fronts to  St. Jude Ranch for Children, Recycled Card Program, 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, Nev. 89005. You can also reach them at 1-877-977-SJRC.

Oxford climber tackles Kiliminjaro for Angel Ranch fundraiser

 
Photo via Oxford Eagle

Janice Carr walked for six days up Africa's tallest mountain, Kiliminjaro, to help raise funds for Angel Ranch, an emergency shelter for the victims of child abuse and neglect.

Carr trained for more than a year for the trip, walking back and forth from Abbeville to Oxford, even during the hottest of days this summer. She asked people to pledge a donation to Angel Ranch if she made it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

She returned home on Sept. 28 and hopes all will make good on their promises (and is hoping to attract a few more too). You can make a donation via PayPal here or make checks payable to Angel Ranch (note in the memo, “Mt. Kilimanjaro”) and mail to PO Box 120, Oxford, MS 38655. All donations are tax deductible, 100% of which go to Angel Ranch.

CitizenGulf National Day of Action set for Aug. 25

On Aug. 25 (in alignment with the fifth anniversary of Katrina), the Citizen Effect has slated a national day of action to help raise funds for educational programs designed to help fishing families impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Citizen Effect, together with several support partners and volunteers, is organizing several online and local event fundraising efforts across the U.S.

Catholic Charities of New Orleans is the beneficiary of all CitizenGulf National Day of Action donations. Citizen Effect will send 100% of donations, less credit card fees, directly to Catholic Charities to support education programs for fishing families

What You Can Do To Help

1. Attend Or Host Local Events Around the United States.

With the help of local chapters of the Social Media Club, members are volunteering to organize New Orleans-themed events with live jazz, blues, or Zydeco music along with speakers who will talk about the environmental consequences in the Gulf. Event hosts are asked to suggest a $10 donation as a cover charge, which will be donated to directly benefit fishing families. (To organize an event, sign up here.)

2. Donate Direct To Citizen Effect CitizenGulf.

Citizen Effect has created a donation page, with a goal to raise at least $10,000 by Aug. 25. These funds, which will also be donated to Catholic Charities of New Orleans to help fund educational programs and provide hope for the future, will directly touch more than 10,000 lives.

3. Vote For Gulf Coast Solutions On Pepsi Refresh.

Currently, the Pepsi Refresh Project is committing an additional $1.3 million toward ideas that specifically benefit the Gulf Coast. These ideas will be open for voting on Aug. 2. Votes will be tallied through Aug. 31. Please vote for the Gulf Coast Benefit.

4. Write A Post Or Tweet About The Event.

Another way to help generate awareness for this event or the dozens of local events taking place across the country is to write a post, share a tweet, and tell your friends. Together, we can help fishing families that have lost businesses that have been around for generations find new opportunities through education, good will, and support. (Hashtag is #citizengulf.)

Sign up as a blogger or participate in other ways to help families and wildlife impacted by the BP oil spill on the Gulf Coast. Join the CitizenGulf National Day of Action on August 25, 2010!

[ via bloggersunite.org ]
 

Mardi Gras for a Cause

Hal and Mal's will host a fundraiser on Feb. 24 to help pay medical bills for Austin Clark, a 5-year-old Florence boy with autism. Mardi Gras for a Cause, which requires a $10 donation, will feature a silent auction and live music from Jackson band Cool Papa Bell.

The auction will begin at 5 p.m. with the performance to follow at 8 p.m. Austin's mom, Ruth Carter, is hoping the event will raise about $3,000 to take Austin to specialists in Florida for treatment. (The treatments costs between $6,000 and $10,000.)

Donations can also be made to the For Benefit of Austin Carter charitable fund at any Regions Bank.

[ via Chris Liuzza, Rankin Ledger ]

Pearl police, fire departments host toy drive

The Pearl Police and Fire departments have organized a holiday toy and supplies drive to help the Center for Violence Prevention.

Drop boxes are set up at the city's four fire stations, which will be taking donations until Dec. 10. People should bring a new, unopened toy.

[ via The Rankin Ledger ]

United Way asks for Soap for Hope

The United Way of the Capital Area is launching a Soap for Hope drive for personal care items.

The drive starts today and ends Nov. 14.

Donation drop-off bins are located at area stores and businesses and at the United Way building, 843 N. President St. in downtown Jackson.

For a list of other donation sites and more information, visit www.myunitedway.com.

Put a cork in it

According to Real Simple magazine, you can turn your used wine corks into flooring and wall tiles by sending them to Wine Cork Recycling, Yemm & Hart, Ltd., 610 South Chamber Drive, Fredericktown, MO 63645.

You can also put them in a compost bin. They are natural and thus biodegradable. (But only cork ones - plastic corks can't be composted or recycled.)

Eat for a good cause

This week - Sept. 21-28 - you have an official excuse to eat out (not that I've ever needed one). Part of your tab may help a hungry child!

Share Our Strength has organized restaurants nationwide to donate a portion of sales to its cause - working to end childhood hunger. (Every day, more than 12.6 million U.S. kids are at risk of going hungry.)

The Great American Dine Out is supported by restaurants from national chains to locally owned fine dining establishments. Joe's Crab Shack is selling a special $10 T-shirt, and a percentage of proceeds will be donated.

To find participating restaurants in your area, visit www.greatamericandineout.org and enter your zip code.