An appeal from the national AFT to help displaced colleagues

More than 15,000 of our fellow AFT members were forced to evacuate their homes due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Thousands of our members still have no homes to return to, and in far too many cases, no jobs. In fact, they have little more than what they could carry with them when they evacuated. In addition, hundreds of members in Florida also suffered losses as a result of Hurricane Wilma, which swept through South Florida in late October.

Today, months after the hurricanes, the plight of victims has faded from the headlines. Their need is greater than ever, however, and we are determined to show our union brothers and sisters that they have not been forgotten.

That's why we are asking all AFT members to help with a tax-deductible donation to the AFT Disaster Relief Fund. This fund provides direct assistance to AFT members who have suffered losses in these storms. AFT has committed to raising more than $3 million to help our fellow members in New Orleans and other affected areas get back on their feet. Many AFT members have already stepped up to the plate-with contributions totaling more than $600,000. But we need to do more. That is why the union has asked every AFT state federation to participate in the campaign and to meet minimum fund-raising goals based on membership in each state.

In this holiday season, we ask that you remember our colleagues and their families who are most in need of our help. If you have not already made a contribution to the AFT Disaster Relief Fund, please do so today. If you have already contributed to another organization or charity, we urge you to dig a little deeper and make an additional contribution.

To make your tax-deductible donation online, go to http://www.aft.org/katrina. Note that the online donation form provides a field to indicate your local/affiliate, so that your donation will count toward your local or state campaign.