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Donations are the first step in any aid efforts. Here's a list of the organizations you can send cash to. Turn to the Internet to do so. Please give to web sites of legitimate organizations and beware of e-mails soliciting your credit card information. If you can't leave your job and family to help with the rescue, build schools and homes or run an orphanage, you can send in your monetary donations. Anything will help. Many of these organizations need volunteers. If you happen to have time and the means, put them to good use in the region.

"Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source of both inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species." Dalai Lama, Ethics for the New Millennium

"Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, , militarism. This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men and women." -Martin Luther King, Jr., A Testatment of Home: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

According to various newspapers reports and online magazines monitoring the donations by nations and individuals, there's been a huge pouring of donations to the ravaged countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and others. Yahoo.com and InternetWeek.com report that major relief organizations have received a record amount of donations from online donors. Once again, the Internet has found its due place in the social services. The Web has become a useful tool in gathering, providing information on all aspects of the rescue and relief efforts. It has allowed us to be part of the solution to all these problems caused by the disaster.

So far, donations have been sent to various organizations involved in helping others in the 11 or 12 stricken countries. Some of these organizations are Catholic Relief Services, Doctor without Borders, American Red Cross, U.S. Fund for Unicef and World Vision, Save the Children, International Medical Corps, International Mission Board, Christian Children's Fund, CARE, Baptist World Aid, World Hope International, Project Hope, OxFam America, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee, International Relief Teams, International Medical Corps, International Aid, Habitat For Humanity, Food for the hungry, Direct Relief International, ADRA International, Concern Worldwide, US.

Online donors use a combination of credit cards and Paypal.

What's more important is the fact that countries such as the US and India along with the local countries have put their military resources to the service of the victims and survivors. Two US battle groups from the navy with all the sophisticated helicopters have been providing much needed help and care in the affected regions. India has done the same thing. Many other countries sent their experts in various fields to help out. It's true that their countrymen are involved in the incident. That's the kind of response that was needed in the Haitian flooding. Everybody is God's creature. The response from online donors was not immediate either.

The Tsunami disaster is a much larger tragedy than that experienced by Haiti and even Florida during the recent hurricane season. The world is realizing that we are interconnected and interdependent.

Buried Alive: California Mudslide, Creek & River Overflows

He may not have lots of money to shower his wife and kids with presents, but he had dedication, commitment and lots of love for them.

On this side of the world, California had its own series of natural disasters. It's true we continue to remain glued to our TV watching the Tsunami relief efforts. The rainfall that got the California so wet brought joy to farmers and tragedy to family members who saw their loved ones and properties devastated in a matter of seconds. One such individual was Jimmie Buffett who left Ventura county for this oceanside town about 70 miles from Los Angeles. He was following his love of art, music, mountain and beach appreciation.

"Music is love" engraving could be found over the home's front gate. His knowledge of La Conchita will ultimately be helpful to firefighters who need to have some ideas of where to start digging to rescue survivors of the mudslide.

Jimmie had gone for ice cream. He wanted to treat his wife and daugthers. Everything was calm despite the frequent rainfall. He left with the smile of his daughters and returned to a chaotic situation. Three of his four daughters had stayed behind with his wife, his high school sweetheart. Mr. Wallet is the face of loss brought on by this mudslide in in this idyllic California town. He lost more than anybody. On his way back from the ice cream parlor, he saw the debris, torrent was sliding down toward his house. He ran there to save his family, but could not make it in time. In a matter of seconds, he started digging for them with his bare hands. Soaking wet with his ponytail dreadlocks and crying, he dug his way to one of his daughter's baby shoes. He could hear sounds and was motivated to keep digging.

Since Mr. Wallet used to walk the beach, he had a good idea of the landmarks. He could tell which houses were at the debris and mud-filled scene of devastation. This expert knowledge will become useful to the firefighters who will bring all their manpower to try to rescue as many survivors as possible. He helped map out the locations of likely homes. Would they dig enough to be able to rescue Jimmie's wife and three young daughters? Time was running out. A practical and hopeful man, Mr. Wallet wanted to believe in some sort of miracle. In a matter of days, the scenes of destruction, the veil of calamity that he had been witnessing on TV in after the Asian earthquake and tsunami hit home.

A Fresno City College teacher who knew Jimmie, Mechelle and their s had been praying and hoping for the best for them. She talked about the family's love and devotion. With her own $1000, she set up a fund for them. The smiling faces of the little s could not get out of her own daugther's mind. No more will they listen to their father's songs. They won't be able to take dance lessons and play piano. The music that helped him over the years may not stop. All the reaons in the world for us to find out and support his arts! Part of his healing can come from a contract for a miniseries. Let the network executives who have been fighting over reality shows ideas buy the story of this attentive father, caring and devoted husband. He kept his promise until his hands and fingers gave up. "until do us apart" was his vow to his wife. He did not have lots of material possessions to offer, but he had music and arts appreciation to nurture them with.

The carpenter bass-player's grief is shared many readers and viewers of the mudslide. Reach into your heart and funds to send contribution to:
Wallet Family Memorial Fund at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.

In the meantime, crews continue to use well-trained dogs, sophisticated cameras and microphones to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

Story submitted by ShopnowShop Community Writer