I try to keep this blog pretty focused on running and other fitness related activities, but I just wanted to say something here. The people most affected by hurricane Katrina, those who were living in its path, or in the shadow of the levee… some of them have lost everything and literally just don’t know what to do next.

I just got back from my evening shift volunteering down at the Red Cross phone bank - Austin is one of the designated shelters, and people are calling in trying to find their friends, family, and loved ones. Some of them are elderly, or distressed, need medication or maybe have just lived the same life for 60 years and don’t have a clue. I talk to concerned families, evacuees, and even other aid workers trying to guide yet more people through the system. It’s heartbreaking.

My point is simply this - these people, so many people, need your help. If you’re down South, please volunteer. Call your local Red Cross chapter - if they don’t need you, they’ll know who does. If you want to give, please make a financial contribution. It goes a whole lot further when they can make wholesale food purchases rather than trucking cans peanut butter across the country; not only that, but if we can buy supplies locally to the disaster, it helps the businesses recover as well.

Whatever it is, just do something. No matter how small. Please.

Tomorrow morning: 16×400M. Tomorrow evening: back to the phones.

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