CitizenGulf Sets National Day Of Action

"We survived Katrina. We survived Gustav. We've survived a lot of other things, too. ... I hope we'll make it." — Kevin Voisin

Much like hundreds of other fishing and oyster families in the Gulf Coast, there isn’t enough relief. For every family like Voisin's, many have folded as oil continued to slosh up on the coastal beaches and shut most of the fishing, shrimping, and oyster businesses down. Many may never fish again, despite skill sets handed down for generations.

And then what?

Citizen Effect CitizenGulf Sets National Day Of Action.

On Aug. 25, the Citizen Effect has slated a national day of action to help raise funds for educational programs designed to help fishing families impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Citizen Effect, together with several support partners and volunteers, is organizing several online and local event fundraising efforts across the U.S.

1. Local Events Around the United States On Aug. 25.

With the help of local chapters of the Social Media Club, members are volunteering to organize New Orleans-themed events with live jazz, blues, or Zydeco music along with speakers who will talk about the environmental consequences in the Gulf.

Event hosts are asked to suggest a $10 donation as a cover charge, with all proceeds being donated to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. The benefactor was chosen because it is deeply entrenched in supporting afflicted communities and well suited to developing educational programs that benefit fishing families.

Event hosts do not have to be Social Media Club members. Anyone can fill out an online application to slate an Aug. 25 event, which will be promoted, in part, by the Gulf Coast Benefit. You can also host a private event to help raise funds if another event is already scheduled in your area.

2. Donate Direct To Citizen Effect CitizenGulf.

Citizen Effect has created a donation page, with a goal to raise at least $10,000 by Aug. 25. These funds, which will also be donated to Catholic Charities of New Orleans to help fund educational programs and provide hope for the future, will directly touch more than 10,000 lives.

3. Vote For Gulf Coast Solutions On Pepsi Refresh.

Currently, the Pepsi Refresh Project is committing an additional $1.3 million toward ideas that specifically benefit the Gulf Coast. These ideas will be open for voting on Aug. 2. Votes will be tallied through Aug. 31.

Up to 32 projects will receive funding, ranging from $5,000 grants to $250,000. Pepsi opened this specific project recognizing that the Gulf oil spill is an economic and cultural crisis in addition to being an environmental one. Event organizers ask that you watch for the Gulf Coast Benefit.

Citizen Effect CitizenGulf Is A Liquid Hip Goodwill Pick.

At least once a month, Liquid [Hip] highlights one goodwill effort being undertaken by courageous people with big hearts. We don’t score such efforts. That task belongs to you.

If you want to take a positive action that will leave an immeasurable impact on the lives of fishing families in the Gulf Coast, please participate. Even the smallest action has the potential to change hundreds and thousands of lives. And that's cool.