Assistance For Disabled Katrina Victims

The following information from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association came my way via Sharon Wachsler, a writer, editor, teacher/trainer and disability rights activist whom I know and trust. She confirmed the authenticity of this info by double-checking with Independent Living Research Utilization, a national disabilities organizaiton. ILRU also has its own Hurricane Katrina Relief Assistance for People with Disabilities web page.

Please use the info below to either send money or durable medical supplies (DME) to help disabled Katrina victims:

SUPPLIES UPDATE

We need $25,000 to ship supplies and equipment - we have two trucks ready to go now. We have requested funds for this from FEMA and Foundations. So far, no funds. We can no longer wait for the solution to the supplies crisis. We have created our own. We have a huge warehouse that can receive, sort and distribute supplies and DME. They already have materials on hand and can start getting it out as soon as they raise the first $10,000 for the first two trucks.

We need cash and we need you to start shipping your donated supplies and equipment (SEE GUIDELINES BELOW). They will be distributed as we raise enough funds to get them out. Send donations (money) to:

Portlight Strategies Inc.

Katrina Disability Relief

3614 Back Pen Road

Johns Island, SC 29455

843-817-2651

Ship DME and Supplies (NOT CASH) to:

Paul Timmons

Katrina Disability Relief

4900 Lewis Road

Stone Mountain GA 30083

843-817-2651

Make checks payable to Portlight Strategies Inc.

Portlight Strategies Inc. is a private non-profit 501c3 entity. Their TaxExempt number is #58-2299951.

Guidelines for shipping supplies and DME

-- Anything mechanical needs to be working

-- Boxes need to have inventory listed both in indelible marker on outside and a list on the top of the interior

-- Clothes need to be clean and appropriate for the environment

-- Please be helpful - don't send junk

If you want proof of your donation for tax purposes, you must include name and FULL address.

Thanks to Paul Timmons for taking this on. For those who don't know, Paul is a longtime disability leader who was central to the 10th Anniversary ADA Torch Relay. His organization has been distributing supplies and DME internationally and throughout the southern states. He has been proven to be effective and you can be confident that 100% of your donation will go to getting supplies and DME to those who need them.

Thank you so much,

Marcie Roth

Executive Director/CEO

National Spinal Cord Injury Association

6701 Democracy Blvd Suite 300-9

Bethesda, MD 20817

[PS - from Sharon -- obviously this is not specific to the needs of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. I'm still waiting to learn if there's any nationally (or locally) coordinated effort of MCSrs to send MCS-related supplies and nontoxic clothing, products, etc.]

---------------------------

Darrell Lynn Jones, M.A.

Program Coordinator

ILRU Community Living Partnership

National State-to-State Technical Assistance Center

Independent Living Research Utilization

2323 S. Shepherd - Suite 1000

Houston, TX 77019

(713) 520-0232, ext. 132 (voice/tty)

(713) 520-5785 (fax)

www.ilru.org

ILRU is a program of TIRR, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, a nationally recognized rehabilitation center for persons with disabilities.