Mardi Gras Party to Benefit the Mississippi Gulf Coast Red Cross Chapter February 20, 2007

Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the Good Times Roll!) Mardi Gras Beads, Creole food, King Cake, Zydeco & Jazz music, but most importantly, it's a Party with a Purpose! Games, masks, beads, raffles, traditional Mardi Gras appetizers, complimentry drinks and more!

Melange Internationale and Nexus Café are hosting a Mardi Gras party on Tuesday February 20 (Fat Tuesday) at Madame X to benefit the Mississippi Gulf Coast Red Cross Chapter. Please go to www.nexuscafe.com/redcross/ to register.

As you may know, thousands of people in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area were displaced from their homes from Hurricane Katrina and have been placed in temporary housing (trailers) provided by FEMA.

Some of the trailers are catching on fire.

It seems the trailers do not have adequate heat and people are using space heaters to stay warm, failing asleep with them on, causing some trailers to catch on fire.
About 450 Families have lost their trailers due to fire.

2 children lost their lives in fires in Jackson County over the holidays, and there were 3 fires just this past weekend.

Right now there are over 30,000 people living in these trailers.

The immediate need is great when folks are victims of fire.

The Red Cross is over budget and needs money to provide food, shelter and clothing for fire victims and provide fire safety education for those 30,000 folks living in the trailers.

Here's the deal:

Food and clothing cost per fire disaster for a family of 4 is $1200

Temporary shelter for a family of four is $250 average

First responder disaster volunteer expense for two days is $150

What can your $35.00 admission fee do?

* Provide fire prevention plan and fire safety materials to 100 families; or

* Provide meals for one first response worker for one day; or

* Provide clothing for a child

What can your $100.00 donation do?

* Provide one night of temporary lodging for a family of four; or

* Provide food for one person; or

* Provide clothing for one person

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Red Cross Chapter could really use $5,000.00 and Mardi Gras is a great way of partying for a cause. Our goal is $5,000.00 but if we can raise more.....FANTASTIC!

Yes, it seems like Katrina was a long time ago but these folks need our help now more than ever. The Mississippi Gulf Coast was hit first, hardest and receives the least attention.

For more information about the American Red Cross, please call 1 800 HELP NOW or email [email protected]. All Proceeds will go to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross name is used with it's permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, individual or political position. $30.00 of the $35 admission is allowable for tax deduction and $5.00 is for goods and services.

Official Website: http://www.nexuscafe.com/redcross/