Like untold numbers of coastal residents, watching the horrific images unfold on television in recent days, I am suffering from an intense case of middle class white guilt. I have no clue what it is to be trapped by poverty, ignorance, and tradition.

When a call is issued to evacuate my home because of impending danger, I have the ways and the means to heed the call. For Hurricane Dennis, I gathered my dog, clothing for several days, a couple of essentials and went on down the road, leaving the fate of my home and all else I owned to the universe and my insurance company. Not having the choice of fleeing or staying is an alien concept for most of us.

The fallout from this storm and the images we have seen is just about all anyone is talking about. There are those that say, “Why didn’t they just go?” Let’s examine that question.

For decade after decade, New Orleans and its inhabitants considered themselves lucky and touched just enough by God that storms always turned away before hitting the Big Easy. The majority of full time residents are the working poor, a huge percentage living below the poverty line of $10,000 per year. They are not well educated. They do not watch the news on television. They do not have credit cards and personal vehicles. They stayed with what they knew—their homes and neighbors—and prayed the luck of New Orleans would hold. This time it did not and we all have been witness to the consequences. Most of us have been struck numb by what we have seen and we are experiencing it removed from the sounds and odors.

My guess is all of us have wondered how well we would endure and if we could survive if we were there. How long would it take for me to be reduced to a snarling animal fighting for survival when help didn’t come?

It is not up to me to point a finger and ask how it is that victims halfway around the world got relief quickly when the tsunami hit and it took days and days to get basic items to people in our country. We all have theories and we are all appalled at what appears to be a complete lack of planning by everyone up and down the line. Our vulnerability and slowness of response has been seen worldwide and it’s not a pretty picture.

On the plus side, American citizens—the backbone and lifeblood of this country—have mobilized. There is not a standing church or operating charity organization anywhere not doing something. Businesses are coming together in this community and nationwide to organize concerts, golf tournaments, a day’s worth of dining room receipts donated to the Red Cross, and countless other fundraising efforts. The Internet sites for donations to the Red Cross are swamped. We care about our neighbors and it will become increasingly apparent how much we care in the days to come.

People sitting in a temperate home with food in the fridge and fresh water coming from the tap are looking at what they can give and giving it. Thousands are volunteering time and skills, which can sometimes be more valuable than money. Every single person can do something and it should not come down to dollars and cents. If you can go to your church, or any number of other donation centers and help sort donations, do it. If you can give blood, go to Sandestin’s Linkside Center on Friday Sept. 9 and drop off a pint.

Giant corporations can give huge amounts of money and America’s truly wealthy can make huge gestures. Our government can allocate millions, but in the end it will be how ordinary people respond as a nation to our fellow citizens that will make the difference. This storm is giving thousands the chance to start new lives, perhaps leaving poverty behind forever and reshaping the destinies of their children. A crisis provides opportunity as well as adversity. Let us all contribute toward providing opportunity.

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