Last night before the end of the business day a massive line of storms began making its way across East Texas to NW Louisiana. Kay, our Office Manager and mother of sorts, in her always caring way said, “Be careful on your way home.”

I feel fortunate to work in this environment. There is something pleasing about knowing every person within the organization, the sharing of funny stories of our lives outside of the office, and laughing at ourselves. Penn Homes is a small organization that runs like a well oiled machine. Now if only our lives were as easily managed, but children, dogs, cats don’t always appreciate being so scheduled and organized on Gantt charts.

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January 18, 2010 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, also known as The King Day of Service. January is also National Mentoring Month.

Dr. King had a dream of equality for all, justice, and freedom. He encouraged all who would listen to live up to their potential, their ability to do what they can to the best level possible. Dr. King once said, “In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

The King Day of Service is an opportunity to exhibit the teachings of Dr. King and his life example through meeting needs within the community, whatever those needs may be. By lifting up our neighbors we lift up ourselves. So in honor of this new “great” tradition, Penn Homes encourages you to become involved in service of your choice.

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Tuesday January 12, 2010 a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 destroyed thousands of buildings and homes affecting over a million people. As of today, over 9,000 dead have been collected from the streets and the estimated final number completely unknown. The United Nations report shows “at least 10 percent of housing in the capital was destroyed, making about 300,000 homeless, but in some areas 50 percent of buildings were destroyed or badly damaged.”

When I lay my head down on my pillow tonight I will once again remember this part of the world, all the families affected by this tragedy, and those who are leaving their own pillows to go help where they are able. Pilots are volunteering their time to fly supplies. Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are in route or already there to help stabilize the sick and injured. Troops are being deployed to help with rescue and security during this emotional time. People are risking their own lives to help others, while I lay my head on my pillow tonight wondering what more I could do besides pray.

Today as I begin my research on how I can help a grim picture emerges. The dredges of mankind just can’t help themselves from rearing their ugly heads. Skepticism over where monetary relief is or will go is already being uttered. The FBI even released a statement on their website regarding scams.

01/13/10—The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

• Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov.

For a reputable organization, consider one of the ones listed below. These are but just a few of the many available.

http://www.redcross.org/

http://charitynavigator.org/

https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/donate.aspx?link=227

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

http://www.yele.org/