its about time the freebies stop. There are alot of people getting food and giving it away to people that live in north louisiana. Its time people got on with there life. Jobs are there but nobody wants them.

quit waiting on handouts an go back to work.

Great idea Mike but the problem is, most people no longer have jobs to go back to. Believe me, these folks WANT to go back to work!

It's easy to encourage people to go back to work...However, you have to remember many buildings where businesses once were are totally gone, childcare facilities barely exist,if at all, transportation was virtually washed away, not to mention that most are stuck in the "boonies" with a tent as their home...
Think about it, it really is kind of hard to wake up in the morning and kiss your spouse good-bye and tell them to have a wonderful day as you trek off to work! I'm sure every day life gets a little better and a little back to normal, but it's going to take months, if not years,to get everyone back into the groove of things...
So, in the meantime, I'll continue to donate "freebies" to these schools, churches and families who lost most of their lives and financial well-being in these storms...And, for those you who would like to continue to help out the children of Katrina and Rita, please visit www.generation2b.com:)

Best Wishes,

JoAnn Bush
Los Angeles, CA
www.generation2b.com
www.clippingcoupons4acause.com

I'm glad to see that the time has come where freebies aren't so much in need. Contrary to previous posts, not everyone who receives freebies does so because they're lazy or dragging their feet. (I speak from current personal experience.)

These people have had everything ripped out from underneath them; I'm sure they're just now having the stress and reality of their situations cave in on them. If you've never suffered from depression, you have no idea how difficult it can be to operate under such conditions. While the mainstream of people don't need assistance anymore, there are still going to be people out there who need it. And, considering how devastated the region is, I'm willing to guess that there will be more people than normal for that area of the country.

Congrats on the recovery efforts; I'm so glad to hear it!

PEOPLE DO WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK AGAIN! I LIVED IN HENDERSON POINT, PASS CHRISTIAN, MS AND MY HOUSE IS NOTHING BUT A RUINED PILE OF RUBLE, EVERY THING I OWN IS GONE. UNTIL PEOPLE WALK IN OUR SHOES, THEY WILL NEVER QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LOSE EVERYTING YOU HAVE EVER WORKED FOR. PEOPLE HAVE TO PICK UP THEIR LIVES BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO WORK!

The point is not whether the freebies are given out or not because it is always right to help people in need. The point is WHO is giving the freebies. It is not the government's resposibility to give people hand outs. People are expected to provide for themselves when they can and when they cannot there are plenty of charity organizations that do a lot of good for people without the government interfering. Charity organizations give while the government takes from others to give. There is a huge difference.

Lee,

Ever hear of insurance?

Joe, Have you filed an insurance claim lately? Even if you live outside the hurricane areas, people are being told it will be 6 to 8 months before claims can be processed. Ever hear of compassion???

thank you for your attitude JoAnn

It is sad that we as a nation are so quick to lay judgement on others. I could not imagine enduring the wrath of Katrina. And don't forget that our goverment gave the suvivors of 9-11 amounts exceeding $5,000,000 per family a far cry from warm meals and water; mininmal freebies.

Many states are bearing the brunt of evacuees. Many people rightly need help and I don't have a problem with that. It's the others who had nothing in the first place, living off the public dole who now have spent their Red Cross Debit cards on booze, drugs, jewelry and gambling, and now spend their time seeing what else they can get for free that gripe me. Do they want to work? Some no - they didn't want to work in the first place. There is no accountablility for how they spend their checks and no rules that say - you have to get a job or look for a place to live. While those who deserve some help to get back on their feet and want to get back to some sort of normalcy are caught in the red tape. But I have seen too many that won't try and help themselves and are happy to get on tv and cry poormouth. I'm tired of hearing it and even more tired of seeing things just given away while I bust my hump at work every day.

Donations are still needed in Hancock County. Currently, there is only one small grocery store open in the county. People who can, drive at least 25-30 miles to the nearest Wal-Mart, where it takes at least 30 minutes to get in and out of the parking lot, 1-2 hours to get around the store, with many shelves bare, then wait in line to check out a minimum of 45 minutes. Your food spoils before you can get it home, or to your FEMA trailer if you are lucky enough to have one. I have to shop on the weekends, because I work during the week and stores and restaurants still close early due to curfews and lack of employees. And yes, we have heard of insurance. So far, I know of only two people who have been adequately compensated by their insurance. People are frozen and still in shock, knowing that to repair or rebuild it will take every penny they can scrape together. Hancock County is still in recovery mode, not rebuilding mode. The people here desperately want to rebuild but are caught in the insurance, FEMA, SBA, building permit, elevation requirements dance.

thanks Cindy..... number one.. why show we replace everything that people lost. Most had nothing to began with. Should it be our problem to replace things people didnt have. I like you bust my hump at work while the evacuees sleep till noon an then go on a hunt for freebies. Stop the freebies an let the businesses get back to work. Quit whinning, do something for yourself.

please tell me what jobs are there? gutting houses? tearing down homes? cleaning debries? in the bay and waveland there are 3 gas stations, a few restarunts, an 2 bars. and tell me how many people are unemployed? seems to me the unemployed is greater than the demand. now where do you want them to work? we are not all capable of construction work. thanks for your support we lazy good for nothing hurricane survivors who are living on the government thank you. all that money that was taken out of my check befor the storm for taxes i think i deserve to use it now that i need it. p.s. id like to envite yall down here to stay in my home and enjoy the view from the top of the pile

From what I hear the Churches are the ones handing out desperately still needed freebies. Where's the RED CROCK, I mean Cross.

MSNBC invstigate the the Red Cross, so many people donated thinking they were helping victims, I think the money went to pay the CEO of Red Cross's $651,957 annual salary.

I also hear FEMA trailers are arriving but they forgot to bring the keys for them. Way to go Brownie!

i personally have watched, as the compassion ran heavy and thick, even had a family member sacrifice his time and family to go there to help for 2 weeks, and he spoke of some hardworking individuals trying desperately to find the life that was lost in this mess, but the key is these people did not lose their lives. and in order to get up, they need to start moving. we have some "neighbors" for New Orleans that moved into our neighborhood and the community did an outpouring of soooo many good things. As a single mother of two children, i struggle working two jobs and have no other help/support from anywhere, no government - and don't make much - but make more than allowed to get assistance. i have to say that these families, go shopping apparently every day, and when i am coming home between jobs, they are bringing in bags and bags of goods, not food, and within hours are in their silk gowns running back and forth to each others home. i see no attempts to get up at 7am to go try to secure a job.

as a person that was severely depressed, laying in the past doesnt allow you to walk out of it. i have been down to nothing as well. and as my circumstances were not brought on by "government" neither was Katrina brought on by any "government" doings.

Even Jesus Christ tells us to get up off our knees sometimes and do something about the situation.

On one hand i feel for all those people that a relative told me about living in tents, and such waiting on the system, but on the other hand i see plenty that have more now than they ever had, and are taking it all for granted.

I think the government should stop the Freebies and think it is a shame that it has gone on this long. help those that help themselves and get the one's taking the government for a ride up on their feet.

I have lost everything and been homeless with 2 children, i do know what it is like except for one thing, when it's called divorce you get absolutely nothing, when it's called Katrina you got plenty and for some more than they obviously deserve.

My prayers are for all. i have walked in those shoes!

I was one of the volunteers from Florida that was stationed at "Camp Katrina" and assisted with the Disaster Unemployment Claims for the citizens of Waveland, Bay St Louis and the surrounding areas. I saw first hand the devastation that was caused by Katrina. The citizens I assisted and talked to ALL wanted to go back to work BUT there was NOTHING left to go back to and most people were living in cars or tents. As far as insurance, remember that the Waveland area was hit by the storm surge and therefore this is considered a flood by most insurance companies and they will not cover the loss and you can forget FEMA. It is easy to criticize when you haven't lived the nightmare. My hat is off to the wonderful people of Waveland/Bay St Louis. God Bless YOU!

this story disturbs me in the sense that i recently rad a news story out of Bay St. Louis where Hancock County is facing a food shortage. i have a friend living there who confirmed the problem. many people are still living in tents-- it is not their choice not to live in a trailer, can't get one until there is water and electricity. is compassion dead?

it is true that some from the affected areas still need help with basic necesities - there will ALWAYS be some that take advantage of everything they can get, do NOT lump them into the same group as those who are trying to rebuilt thier homes and lives. I have personally been thru the FEMA-Red Cross dance, after the initial check from FEMA I only qualified for disaster area unemployment-but this does not pay the rent, couldn't live in my apartment due to no power or water for 6 months, still had to pay rent or get evicted-sorry no flood insurance either-who ever sells flood insurance for an apartment on the second floor. Couldn't work due to job being flooded and closed for 4 months...some of these people still need help, let them have it with no judgements...

Most people do not fully comprehend the difficulties of "picking up" the pieces and getting back to normal on the Gulf Coast. There are mile and miles and miles of house sites that are covered in debris - lumber for houses that may or may not have been situated on that site as well as trees and appliances, etc. There are even cars and trucks under the huge piles of debris. In order to place a trailer or try to rebuild on the site, all that debris must be loaded up and hauled away. The vast majority of the people that live there do not have the equipment necessary to complete this task so that have to hire someone to do it. That requires money which most people don't have right now. What money they may have had has been spent by now just trying to get by. And the insurance checks, if you are fortunate enough to have the right coverage, have not come yet. Then there is the problem of finding someone to hire to load and haul the debris. There is not an unlimited supply of companies or individuals that do this kind of work. Once you find someone to hire, you have to wait your turn since there is a limited number of companies or individuals. One solution to this problem might be for more companies to start providing these debris hauling services. That would be good except that there are no places for the new workers to stay. So now you are back to square one. Once the site is cleaned up and you are ready to start rebuilding, you have to get a building permit. That presents a whole new set of problems. Okay, so you get the permit and you are ready to go. Who are you going to hire to build your house? There are only a limited number of carpenters and contractors. So once again, you have to wait your turn. All the while, everyone around you is going through the same ordeal so you have no one to turn to for help.
As for the "freebies", that are always people that take advantage of programs that are set up to help people in times of need. But those that need the help should not be punished because of the freeloaders. People should stop and think before they just rant and rave about things they know nothing about.

I think it is very degrading to refer to people in Waveland and the surrounding area as people who are somehow trying to make themselves "rich" off the generosity of others. It is difficult enough to have a personal crisis and be able to lean on your friends and family for support. It is entirely another level of frustration and helplessness to have everyone around you in the same crisis you are and to possibly have friends and family who are no longer alive for you to lean on. I have been proud to volunteer as many hours as possible to a church initiative in Rockford, IL that has been able to provide clothing to the people of Waveland and the surrounding area. These people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and to be able to rely on those of us who care deeply about them and what they are going through. Most of us get to shed a few tears about the devestation of Katrina and then go about our lives. For those who must continue to live with the aftermath, life will not be "normal" for a long time to come. It is the least the rest of us can do to share whatever we can with them. God bless you all!

I posted this on another story but after reading the insensitive posts that I’ve just read here, it bears repeating. I’ve grown increasingly tired of the people out there that think the folks down on our Coast are just “lounging” around waiting for someone to “wipe their noses” and “sleeping in until noon” to wake up to go on their “freebie hunt”. I had no idea that you people were the only tax paying American citizens in this country, therefore I’d like to make a few points crystal clear to those who have assumptions about us down here…..(1) THESE PEOPLE PAY TAXES TOO!!! (2) All the insurance premiums that these people have been paying over the last 5, 10, 15 or 20 years have been “stolen” from them as the insurance companies are not paying a tenth of what is damaged and a few of the insurance companies are not even bothering to renew policies. (3) According to one of the larger local insurance companies the value of production loses in Mississippi alone are as follows: Cotton…$89,000,000.00 Soybeans…$18,000,000.00 Forestry…$200,000,000.00 Poultry…$30,000,000.00 Beef…$70,000,000.00 and the damage to the states oyster beds and shrimp fisheries (which is a large employer on the coast) are SEVERE. And do I need to remind everyone of the damage to the oil rigs and refineries???? Not to mention the ship building industry facilities down here have taken a beating. And probably one of the number one industries, the CASINO INDUSTRY, which either got totally obliterated or thrown across I-90. So, what does this mean for all you good taxpaying people out there that think we’re lazy or stupid for not having insurance and warrant no help from the federal government?????? I don’t think I have to state the obvious sign of gas prices….oh but there is more. That hamburger at lunchtime just went up right along with the chicken sandwich due to the high cost of poultry and beef out on the market and lets not forget that new deck you were going to have built in the spring….it just increased in cost by about 15-20% because the price of lumber is going up….as the tree farmers take a loss that you would not believe. Not to mention, your going to have a harder time getting that shrimp cocktail at brunch as the shrimping business is nonexistent at this time. And let’s not leave out those of you who happen to be vegetarians….soybeans are a major ingredient in those foods…so guess what???? That’s going to increase too. We are sick of hearing people tell out good citizens on the coast to get up and get a job……what don’t you people understand about the fact that our ENTIRE coastline and up to 2 miles inland in some places, IS COMPLETELY GONE?????? And this is directed to mike….who thinks we have nothing down here to replace…..I hope you personally feel the effects of EVERYTHING that we have lost down here….from the higher price of the shirt that you lay across your back to the next chicken dinner you eat….and when you do please think of us down here and ALL we didn’t have to begin with.

Unless your here on the ground to see for yourself and make an informed evaluation of what is happening here, I suggest you stop proving your ignorance with posts like the ones above.
If you are here ,then post your opinion.
Help or get out of the way.
Scott Ankeny

Just look back at the original article - it's the New Waveland Cafe that is being _asked_ to stop distribtuting tools, not the end of a government program. New Waveland is being run, as far as I can tell, by a mix of old-fashioned "heal the sick, feed the poor" Christians and an assortment of anarchists you'd normally see protesting the WTO, and yet people are complaining about government taxes.

And look at what they are being asked to do: to stop a free tool loan program. What kind of insanity does it take to ask a private charity to stop lending shovels? So people are saying that we have to stop people from borrowing shovels because they sleep till noon?

Soon, of course, the government will step in and help out the corporations (who want to sell each person their own tools instead of letting folks share), because our government thinks capitalism should apply to poor families, but corporations need to be coddled. Or can you think of another reason that government officials who haven't been able to keep track of the disaster can finally pay enough attention to tell private charities to stop?