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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

I know you need so many things right now. I wish I could be with-in arm’s reach to offer you a hot meal, a warm bed… or just a change of clothes. Many of us in other countries are appalled by the lack of support that has been provided to the people in the US (by your Federal Government), to the people that need it most. I believe that most of your fellow American’s are also feeling inpotant(sp?) that there is not more being done to ease your suffering in a more efficent manner.

There are many, many people, like myself, who have little money, but are looking for ways that we can help you in the long term. I have contacted the Red Cross & the Salvation Army hoping that we can contribute whatever we can give. That whatever we may be able to give, it will in some way, ease you in your time of need.

I want you to know that in my small family, we have been watching what has been going on since Sunday night. You should be proud that there are people of your fifth estate, in the media, that have been crusaders for you, weather you are rich or poor. There are very many of us (in other Countries), that are watching, very, very closely.

The media HAVE gotten your stories out.

Many people around the world have heard some Americans ask “where is the rest of the world” in giving aid, when in the past the US as been so genrous in stepping up to help others. I don’t know what you are hearing in American papers, but there has not been one country that has not come forward to offer aid. It may be help that it is on a very small scale ( one of the poorest counties in the world today pledged $250,000 that that they can ill afford). I hope that it ultimatley reaches the people that need it most.

So many of you face what must seem like insurmontable odds as you try to re-build your lives. Please belive that there are others out in there in the world that are working (in very small ways), to help see that you not only sucessed, but triumph.

The only point I have in writing this is that you know that there people, other that in the US, that are not only think of you, but who are looking for ways in which we can help.

Note to the editor: The spelling may not be the greatest… but I hope that in some time in the very near future that you could possibly find room in your paper for my note. I truely want the people of the southern states to know that there are people around the world that watching what is going on. My heart is just breaking for your pain.

Sincerly
Marie Fisher
Toronto, Ontario Canada

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.