What is the organization called Matter of Trust all about?

Answer 1

Currently, during the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, they are very involved in getting donated natural fibers (hair, fur, wool) to the Gulf coast to make booms to protect what can be protected from the toxic oil, and to use to help in clean up of beaches and wildlife where those measures to try to protect fail.

The role this non-profit volunteer organization plays in this effort is amazing, but this is not their only project, it is just their current emergency project to coordinate the donations of natural fibers such as hair, wool, feathers, and also of pairs of nylons (hosiery), to be used to help make barrier booms and to use in the clean up of beaches, birds and animals that get oil soaked.

All the information on what donations they can take, and how to sign up to help, is on the web site linked below. Once you sign up to send fiber to the Gulf, you will be sent an address of a warehouse along the coast to which you send the donations of the natural fibers (these fibers are excellent at trapping and cleaning up the catastrophic crude oil pollution). They will accept specific natural fibers...dog grooming hair, beauty salon hair, hair from individuals, wool producers, horse hair, feathers from pillows or poultry operations. You must sign up, through the web page, to get the specific address of the warehouse which is closest to the place where the clean up measures are needed most critically at that time.

Matter of Trust also works in coordinating groups to make the booms out of the donated material...see the links on the web page to their YouTube videos on how to make them. Classrooms and groups are having projects and boom making parties. Please pass this on to others who can help. Do you know beauticians? Do you know dog groomers? Do you have horse hair, wool from sheep or other wool-producing animals, or do you know those who do? Some of the mats and booms can be reused, so donations now will provide long term help in oil clean up measures.

See the link below in the related links section to find out more about this current activity they are organizing.

UPDATE:June 10, 2010

The following announcement was made by Matter of Trust President, Lisa Gautier:

"ALL WAREHOUSES ARE FULL!"

"Hi - Thanks to all 45,000 businesses and thousands of individuals we have enough hair, fur, fleece and feathers to make more than 25 MILES OF BOOM!

Over 10 miles has already been made by hundreds of volunteers! And it is being deployed in municipalities in Florida and Alabama now. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS :)

We CANNOT TAKE any more boxes of hair, fur or fleece so PLEASE DON'T SEND ANY MORE AT THIS TIME. You have all been AMAZINGLY GENEROUS!"

The organization requests individuals and businesses to continue to sign up at their web site (see link below) as potential future donors so they can be contacted quickly if this emergency requires additional fibers, and if donated warehouse space continues to be available along the Gulf coast.