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. In addition to our work in Mississippi, we have also provided assistance to Galveston, TX after Hurricane Ike.  We are currently reaching out to help victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

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 many businesses have reopened.  However, Katrina was the most destructive storm in U.S. history.  The scope of that destruction was enormous.  Five 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 $900 to $1000 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.  Although we have worked with other relief organizations and schools, there is no formal  affiliation with any of these organizations.

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. 

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

A.  In 2009, Needham Cares established 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 have provided monetary assistance to several families in Galveston.  In addition, since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, we have been looking to expand our efforts to help the victims in Haiti.  We have recently established a relationship with an organization that is rebuilding houses and schools in Haiti.  We have already provided some grant money and hope to provide additional grant money and possibly send volunteers in 2011.

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.  Currently, Needham Cares is willing to help an organization or group coordinate a trip to Mississippi to provide rebuilding assistance.