Benevon works with several Volunteers of America affiliates, American Red Cross chapters, Salvation Army corps, and Humane Society offices, all of whose hurricane relief efforts are nothing short of heroic. But Benevon also works with many smaller groups who are doing all they can as well. Our coaches and staff share the following stories from the smallest scale efforts to the largest, offering a glimpse into the countless untold acts of kindness and generosity occurring in response to this disaster.

The K.I.D.S. Center in Louisville, Kentucky, works with children affected by cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, and other disorders. But the center put aside its own fundraising needs and reached out to hurricane victims by holding a Cajun luncheon on September 7, with all proceeds earmarked for the American Red Cross relief effort. Summit Academy in Louisville, a school for children with learning disabilities, had its students bring in pennies one day, nickles the next, then dimes, and finally quarters to help raise money for the American Red Cross.

Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services in Texas took in forty-two foster children from Louisiana and hired more social workers, also displaced by the hurricane, to work with children and families affected by the disaster.

A group of nuns, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Cincinnati, Ohio, organized a prayer circle. Schools and seminaries have offered to take in students, and St. Vincent Catholic Charities in Lansing, Michigan, is now leading the resettlement efforts in their city for hundreds of displaced evacuees.

Many hurricane victims wouldn't want to imagine going through this crisis without Volunteers of America, the American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army, which have provided mobile kitchens, canteens, shelter, medical assistance, clothing, relocation, and emotional support.

Ten days after the hurricane hit, the American Red Cross reported that it was sheltering 159,000 evacuees in 650 shelters across seventeen states and had already served 5.4 million hot meals and 5 million snacks. Their mega shelter, the Houston Astrodome, was set up and operational in less than twenty-four hours and can house tens of thousands of evacuees.

The Louisville (Kentucky) area chapter alone welcomed nearly 2,100 new residents who were displaced by the hurricane—and Louisville is more than 700 miles away. "The outpouring of support for the American Red Cross from the Louisville, Kentucky area has been tremendous," said Jan Walther, director of marketing and public relations for the Louisville area chapter. "Over 4,400 people have signed up to volunteer."

Ten days after the hurricane, The Salvation Army reported that it had served more than 740,000 meals in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and was working with survivors in thirty states.

Capt. Todd Brewer, a Salvation Army corps officer in Alexandria, Louisiana, said soon after the hurricane that his office invited people to come in and shower. Many of them left in tears simply because they got a hot shower.

Meanwhile, Humane Society offices around the United States and Canada immediately took action to find boats, trucks, crates, carriers, supplies, food, and other essential items for rescuing animals in Louisiana and Mississippi.

"It might seem unimportant to think of animals at a time like this," a woman from a Humane Society office in Alabama wrote to her Benevon coach. "But speaking from a psychologist's standpoint, people rely on their animals for an incredible sense of normalcy and comfort, especially in times of distress. They are so much more important than most people realize."

Two weeks after the hurricane hit, the Humane Society reported that nearly 5,000 animals had been rescued by various organizations.

The thirty-nine Volunteers of America affiliates across the county are assisting in any way possible, including arranging with airlines to fly people to their offices in other cities for shelter and a new start. Volunteers of America had a huge presence in the affected areas even prior to the hurricane and estimates that the hurricane has displaced housing and support services for more than 1,200 of its low-income seniors and families, 300 severely disabled and homeless adults, 200 homeless veterans, and an untold number of foster children.

As Christie J. Holderegger, vice president of development and communications, wrote to supporters, "Volunteers of America's founders, Maud and Ballington Booth, stated more than 100 years ago that 'we will go wherever we are needed and do whatever comes to hand.' That is exactly what we will continue to do today and in the weeks, months, and perhaps years to come."

If you are with a Benevon alumni organization and have a story to share, please send it to info@benevon.com.