HAL-PC is actively involved in several volunteer/donation opportunities in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Because of the rash of developments that occured after publication of the September eBulletin, we are issuing a special edition to inform the membership. Please monitor the HAL-PC home page for new developments, as well as the Hurricane Katrina Relief Information Page on the HAL-PC website

TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL

ASTRODOME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
HAL-PC member Kirt Walker ([email protected]) is coordinating HAL-PC member volunteers at the Astrodome. Technology For All has already set up impressive hardware capabilities in the Dome. Volunteers are needed (with or without wireless laptop) to assist evacuees in locating relatives using existing Internet sites and to do a little inital training of evacuees in basic computer literacy skills from email to browsing to job searches to preparing a resume in a word processor. Contact Kirt for details.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

HAL-PC SCHOOL SUPPLY/UNIFORM DRIVE
In an extension of our member helping member philosophy, HAL-PC is now collecting school supplies and cash donations for uniforms to help children displaced by hurricane Katrina. HISD is receiving an influx of these children and there is a great need to outfit them with both uniforms and school supplies. Since each school has its own version of uniform HISD is requesting that money be donated to purchase the exact uniforms needed. Donations will be accepted anytime our headquarters is open, Monday through Friday from 9am to 9pm and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Let's show Houston that HAL-PC really believes in people helping people. Contact Mika Elizondo for details.

CHILDREN'S BOOK DRIVE

HAL member, Valerie Burson, is collecting books for children for donation and reading to children living in Houston shelters. Our mission is to bring in quality children's books, read to the children, sing songs and listen to their stories. If you have books you'd like to donate, please bring them to The Aldridge Company, just down the hall from HAL-PC, in Suite 208. Their office hours are 9 - 5pm Monday - Friday. Contact Valerie for details.

HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER RELIEF INFORMATION

VOLUNTEER HOUSTON WEBSITE
Volunteer Houston maintains a web page with the latest in volunteer opportunities. Visit the site for details on working at the Reliant Complex, Food Bank, and area churches. This site also gives details on various donation needs and drop-off points.

HAL-PC KATRINA INFORMATION PAGE
HAL-PC has posted a Hurricane Katrina disaster relief information page on the HAL website. On it you will find links to several charitable agencies as well as current disaster relief information.

ANIMAL RESCUE

DONATE ONLINE WITH CAUTION

As we pointed out in the September eBulletin, please be wary of solicitations for donations from unknown charities. It is unfortunately true that unscrupulous individuals will attempt to take advantage of tragic situations to scam the unsuspecting. Give only to established, familiar organizations. Phishing scams include emails that APPEAR to come from legitimate sources, but clicking on an embedded link takes you to a fake site. A member sent this sad story:

It appears to be a message from Amazon suggesting that you make a donation to the American Red Cross for victims of Katrina. But the message does NOT come from Amazon at all.

The From: address is faked to make it seem to come from Amazon. The look of the message copies the style used by Amazon and the wording is mostly lifted from the real Amazon appeal on their web site.

But the link in the email isn't to the Amazon site, instead it goes to another web site - though the link uses the Amazon web address in it to make the url look more legitimate. Tracing the link takes us to the details for the "China Railway Telecommunications Center" in Beijing which could be real or just a front.