Why should I donate?
That's an excellent question which I would also ask myself. Haven't millions of dollars already been donated? Yes. Isn't the recovery effort almost complete? Not by a long shot.
It's hard to put into words the extent of the damage which has occurred throughout Louisiana from the "two girls who went wild"... Rita and Katrina. Look at these pictures of Holly Beach and Cameron (communities devastated by Hurricane Rita):
That's not a beach, this sand is about a quarter mile from the shore. Can you believe that about 300 homes once stood here and now they've been wiped off the Earth? Unreal.
This used to be an elementary school gymnasium in Cameron.
This scap-metal lot is now where the majority of the town of Cameron lies.
A somber sunset across the devastation at Holly Beach. One trailer stands as a sign of hope and rebirth.
Now look at these pictures from around New Orleans:
One of the thousands of destroyed cars abandoned after the storm.
Both water and wind ravaged this house in one of New Orleans' nicer neighborhoods.
An abandoned row of houses in the suburbs of New Orleans. The water levels here reached well above the roofs.
Even chain fast-food giants weren't able to escape the storm's wrath.
In a few areas, FEMA trailers are enabling residents to begin the long process of rebuilding their homes and their lives.
Groups like Habitat for Humanity are rebuilding neighborhoods like this one which will become a 'Musician's Village'
Please look at the following questions:
Can you believe that street lights in many of New Orleans' busy intersections still aren't functional?
Can you believe that children in western Louisiana can only go to school 2.5 days a week because so many schools were destroyed that they must share their schools with other children?
Can you believe that when these children aren't in school, some of them are operating heavy machinery (like cranes and dump trucks) because there's not enough manpower to support the rebuilding effort?
Can you believe that despite all of the devastation and destruction, the people of Louisiana welcomed myself and the PEPY Ride team into their homes and trailers time after time with huge doses of southern hospitality?
It's true that a lot of money has already been raised for the victims of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Unfortunately the reality of the situation is that the rebuilding is far from complete and residents of Louisiana continue to live in areas which more closely resemble war zones than neighborhoods. It's easy to forget about the hurricanes because they no longer make headline news. I've now spent seven days riding a bicycle across affected areas, talking with locals, and staying in their homes. I still can't comprehend all the devastation I've seen and how much rebuilding still must be done.
You can read other articles published about The PEPY Hurricane Relief Ride at the following web sites (more to come!):
The Milford Daily Times (my article!)
The New York Times (relevant article)
The Official PEPY Hurricane Relief Ride Site
The Official PEPY Ride Site (primarily for rides in Cambodia)
