Eight Months Later, Help Still Needed to Rebuild Lives
NEW YORK, May 3, 2006 — Eight months after Katrina, MyRegistry.com, the ultimate global gift registry, announced today a new way to help victims of the storm, who continue to need substantial assistance to rebuild their towns, schools and homes. "The Gift of Hope" Registry ) matches needy individuals and institutions with potential donors using state-of-the-art gift registry technology.
MyRegistry.com formed a partnership with Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Mississippi to help those living in the region devastated by Katrina. Together they worked with local volunteers to create registries for victims to inform the public directly of their needs and their personal situations. Through the web site, donors can purchase items directly for those who need them the most.
Similar to a bridal registry where visitors select a gift from a registry and purchase it online, visitors to "The Gift of Hope" Registry can select a family or person to help, review their registry and purchase a gift online. From mattresses to circular saws, towels, to even refrigerators, the Gift Lists are personalized and needed. Gift Lists also include Parish needs for the Church, the Girls and Boys High Schools, Elementary School and Community Center.
For people that want to help residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast rebuild and who may not be able to volunteer in person, the site simplifies and personalizes the process of giving. More than 130 families are participating and have created gift list registries.
"I want to thank MyRegistry.com and all the people that enabled this program," said Fr. Michael Tracey, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Church, "starting with Mr. Berkowitz, founder of MyRegistry.com, and the volunteers that spent untold hours registering and helping some people use technology for the first time. This project has been one more example of the goodness of people, and the work we can do together."
"I loved this idea from the moment the Parish contacted us," said MyRegistry's Founder, Oded Berkowitz. "Gift registries are not just for weddings and baby showers, but for any gift giving occasion. We can tell the world exactly what these families need, and people can help them without a middle man, right at this moment. I think that is the kind of charitable giving that anyone can relate to, and I am happy that MyRegistry.com can participate and help."
About MyRegistry.com
MyRegistry.com is the ultimate online registry for all gift-giving needs, where users can add items to their registry from literally any store in the world. It is ideally suited for weddings, baby showers, graduations, confirmations, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, sweet sixteen parties, or any occasion one can think of! Easy to navigate and fun to use, MyRegistry.com is the perfect way to register for all the important events in your life!
About Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Gulf is a Catholic Community of 2,000 families (pre-Katrina) within the Diocese of Biloxi, with a tradition of faith and endurance since its founding in 1847. Inspired by this heritage, we accept God's call to grow as a community of faith, love and compassion, modeled on the ministry of Jesus Christ. By caring for the spiritual needs of all parishioners and embracing new members to our Parish family, we endeavor to put our Catholic faith into action through service to each other and our community.
Media Contacts:
Our Lady of the Gulf Church
Laura Field
312-961-5054
Email
MyRegistry.com
Oded Berkowitz
Email