Q.  What is Needham Cares?

A.  Needham Cares is a community service group that has been connecting community groups and individuals from Needham, Massachusetts with victims of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi since 2005.  We are currently reaching out to help victims of Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas and residents of Needham who are in need of help.

Q.    What is Needham Cares mission statement?

A.     Needham Cares helps people rebuild - their lives, homes, schools and communities - whether impacted negatively by natural disasters or simply "hard times".  We provide aid with direct financial support and/or hands-on volunteer service.

Q.  How does Needham Cares support rebuilding efforts in Mississippi?

A.  Needham Cares personally delivers our help directly to the people who need it, rather than donating to giant relief organizations.  We have established relationships with community organizations such as small, local relief agencies, schools and churches in order to target direct help, thus making the greatest possible impact.  We provide financial support with grants to these organizations and we also organize trips to Mississippi with groups of volunteers to provide hands-on volunteer services.

Q.  What types of assistance are still needed at this time, so long after the storm?

A.  A great deal of rebuilding has taken place in Mississippi.  Many residents have returned to their homes, and some businesses have reopened.  However, Katrina was the most destructive storm in U.S. history.  The scope of that destruction was enormous.  Four years after the storm, thousands of Gulf Coast residents have not yet been able to return to their homes.  The vast majority of those who remain displaced are those with the fewest resources:  the poor, elderly, and disabled.  Money for building supplies and volunteer rebuilding efforts are still needed to assist many of those individuals.

Q.  How often does Needham Cares sponsor building trips to Mississippi?

A.  Needham Cares sponsors about one trip per year to Mississippi, usually in the winter or spring.

Q.  How much does it cost a volunteer to go on a rebuilding trip to Mississippi?

A.  In terms of dollars and cents, the price of a one week trip over the last few years has been about $800 to $900 per person for food, lodging, and airfare.  However, if you ask any volunteer who has been on a trip, they will tell you that the experience is priceless.

Q.  Why support Needham Cares when there are so many other organizations that are helping storm victims?

A.  There are two reasons.  First, we establish relationships with community organizations such as relief agencies, schools and churches in order to target direct help, thus making the greatest possible impact.  Second, even though a lot of work still needs to be done in the Gulf Coast area, most of the other organizations have now moved on to other disaster areas to provide assistance in those areas.

Q. Who can be helpful on a building trip to Mississippi?

A.  Anyone can be helpful on a building trip to Mississippi.  Skilled volunteers are particularly helpful because they can be sent to a job site on their own, or with other volunteers, to perform a specific task.  “Unskilled” volunteers can be taught by a skilled volunteer or be given simpler tasks to do (i.e., painting, yard work, etc.).  Everyone learns that they have useful and helpful skills!

Q.  Where do volunteers stay?

A.  In Mississippi, the Needham Cares volunteers stay at a retreat house in Kiln, Mississippi.  A fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities are available for use.

Q.  Is Needham Cares affiliated with any other organizations?

A.  No.  Needham Cares is an independent organization.  However, we have worked closely with Kathleen Johnson at the Waveland Citizens Fund/Katrina Relief organization (http://www.reliefvolunteers.com/index.html) in Waveland, Mississippi.  Kathleen has provided the work assignments for our volunteer groups to Mississippi.

Q.  What can I do if I can’t make a trip to Mississippi?

A.  Contact us and we can discuss ways that you can help Needham Cares.  For example, you can make a donation to Needham Cares or assist with our fundraising efforts in Needham.  In addition, we are beginning to work with a new committee consisting of representatives from various Town of Needham departments relative to assisting our own Needham residents.  The Town committee will carefully screen applicants requiring help and Needham Cares, where possible, will provide direct aid to these residents.

Q.  Is Needham Cares working in any other disaster areas?

A.  This year Needham Cares members have begun to develop connections in Galveston County, Texas.  Galveston Island was hit by Hurricane Ike in September of 2008.  Eighty percent of the buildings on the island were damaged by that storm.  Thirteen thousand families remain displaced one year after the storm.  We hope to begin sending volunteers to Galveston in 2010.  In addition, we are beginning to work with a new committee consisting of representatives from various Town of Needham departments.  The committee is exploring the possibility of providing direct aid to residents who need assistance maintaining their homes (the elderly, disabled, etc.) through the use of volunteers.  The Town committee will carefully screen applicants requiring help, and Needham Cares, where possible, will assist these residents.

Q.  What happens to all of the donations that Needham Cares receives?

A.  The donations are deposited into the Needham Cares bank account.  When Needham Cares receives requests for financial help the Board of Directors votes on each request to insure that it is consistent with our Mission Statement.

Q.  How much of my donation will actually help people who need it?

A.  100% of the donations made to Needham Cares go directly to supporting people in their efforts to rebuild their communities.

Q.  Are my donations to Needham Cares tax-deductible?

A.  Yes.  Needham Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

A.  Needham Cares has organized trips for college students, and for high school students accompanied by adult chaperones.  Needham Cares is willing to help an organization or group coordinate a trip to either Mississippi or Galveston to provide rebuilding assistance.