Coming to GAFilk 2009? Bring $$$ for more than just the dealers' room

[thatcrazycajun]

Once again this year at GAFilk (now just a week and change away), singing_phoenix (AKA the Songbird) and I will be taking up a collection for the following agencies providing relief to people in the African nation of Kenya still displaced and injured by the political riots of last year at this time: AMREF; UNICEF's Kenya program; the International Medical Corps; and the Kenyan Red Cross Society. (Profuse thanks to con chair autographedcat for granting my request to do this; SB has to fly back there the last day of the con to continue her work for CDC in Kenya, and I want her to have as much help as she can get.)

Yes, I wrote "still." This report filed by Associated Press reporter Elizabeth Kennedy from Nairobi (and printed today in my local paper) details the appalling suffering that continues a full year after the violence that erupted following Kenya's disputed presidential election last December, and months after a power-sharing agreement between the two leading candidates, incumbent Mwai Kibaki of the dominant Kikuyu tribe and challenger Raila Odinga of the Luo (now Prime Minister). Many Kenyans still cannot go home again. (And I thought folks in New Orleans still had it bad three years after Katrina...!) Thousands still live in internal refugee camps to which they fled after mobs burned their homes, businesses and even churches. Some have suffered catastrophic illness and injury, lost loved ones and everything they owned. And the governmental corruption and political/tribal conflict still endemic there has not helped matters.

Last year's convention members were kind enough to contribute a total of $25.00, with me sweetening the pot by an additional $15. We hope to do better this year, as the collection jar will be placed in the main program room on Friday night rather than Saturday afternoon. I realize the US economy is in the toilet right now and some of you, even if you didn't get a pink slip as a holiday gift, may be in tight financial straits. Even if you can only spare a dollar or two, every little bit helps; you would be amazed how much one measly little old Papa George can buy in Kenya in the way of medicines, food and other vital needs.

We hope to see lots of you here in Atlanta next weekend...and lots of cash in that jar by Dead Dog time. Or if you won't be coming, use the links above and consider making a direct donation.
ADDENDUM, 10:44p: The KRC seems to have disabled their "Donate" page and link for some reason; you may have to snail-mail them a contribution by post. And be sure you enable JavaScript in your browser of choice before using any of the links, as they all require it to some degree.

Comments

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Um... that UNICEF link isn't working, and I couldn't find a Kenya-specific program on their site. Also, the Kenyan Red Cross "Donate" button isn't working for me in either IE7 or FF2. :(

However, let's make it a challenge, shall we? I just sent a 2008 gift to the IMC matching what you raised at GAFilk in 2008. Now I won't be at GAFilk myself, but for a 2009 contribution I'll again match 1 for 1 whatever you get.

So please encourage people to drop all their spare change in the jar. ;)

(For my own quirky reasons I give annually to a couple of charities which have programs in Burundi, but I am willing to spare a little bit extra for Kenya because your heart is there. :) )

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Thank you and bless your kind and generous heart. The Kenyan Red Cross link and page for donating isn't working for me either; the page appears mostly blank under the word "Donate." Apologies for not having checked to see the links still worked since last year; the others are fixed.