Please send this to everyone you know who might help

[Guest guest]

October 10, 2005

 

Dear Friends,

 

Heartbreak, anger, desperation, frustration…this is what we are

hearing from people on the Gulf Coast…What do people need when their

lives have been torn out from under them?

 

Acupuncturists Without Borders

 

We are a team of acupuncturists from around the United States,

providing acupuncture relief in a community setting to those

suffering from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and

Rita. We are using the acupuncture protocol developed by the

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). This

protocol is a proven, powerful method for treating trauma.

 

Trauma upon trauma …the hurricanes, not getting enough services,

long-term poverty and racism – the combination has left many in the

worst conditions ever of their lives. As post-traumatic stress

starts to set in, the effects of this condition on top of the

original trauma can be devastating. People need a way to cope with

the emotional devastation, the breaking apart of one's inner world

along with the outer world.

 

We currently have acupuncturists treating firefighters in New

Orleans and evacuees in Lafayette, Louisiana. Teams of

acupuncturists will be rotating through these projects and

additional community-based acupuncture relief projects in the Gulf

area. AWB and CRREW member Laura Cooley reports from Louisiana:

 

" Thanks to CRREW, we have been able to work through the Central

Command Post for the New Orleans Fire Dept. We are being sponsored

by the International Association of Firefighters. We are treating in

a hallway, lined up in chairs. People come up and go " What?? " when

they see the ear acupuncture. The NY firefighters who are here are

recommending the ear acupuncture to the Louisiana firefighters, as

the NY firefighters have gotten used to it, and know its incredible

benefits, through the work of CRREW and others in NYC since 9/11.

 

" A lot of the firefighters have really fallen apart. A lot of them

have lost their houses. One man said, with needles in his ears, " Why

do I feel like I want to cry? " A smiling face goes a long way. We

are very popular. They are so grateful. "

 

The more donations we receive, the more we can do. Our treatments

are free and available to all who need them. In addition to

evacuees, we are committed to helping the relief workers including

police, search and rescue volunteers, and medical personnel. The

cost of these treatments is extremely low compared to other forms of

treatment. One acupuncturist can treat up to 20 people at a time.

 

While we have received tens of thousands of dollars in volunteer

time and in-kind donations, we also need cash donations to do this

work. For every $1.00 donated we can treat one more person. A $20.00

donation will treat 20 people, and perhaps change their lives.

 

Our goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000 for the next 3 months of

work. This would allow us to treat as many as 50,000 people. So far

we have about $8,000.00 in cash donations for hurricane acupuncture

relief.

 

Please consider donating funds to this effort. We are also asking

for frequent flyer miles to get acupuncturists to Louisiana. We are

an organization that falls between the cracks of the traditional

donor relief money. If you have been helped by acupuncture, or you

know someone who has, then you understand the tremendous value

acupuncture can have. We are completely dependent upon people like

you to make this work. Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Diana Fried,

 

Acupuncturists Without Borders

 

www.acuwithoutborders.org

 

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CHECKS CAN BE MADE OUT AND SENT TO:

 

Elk Mountain Healing Center - AWB Katrina Project

c/o Laura Cooley

22 Forrest Tallman

Orford, NH 03777