Oh, well that's different.  I thougth you were asking for a tax-deductible
contribution fund.  You are asking for charity and creating a place to which
a person can send it.

The piece your are missing is getting the word out that this place exists
and/or why you are asking for the money.  For that, you need media and a
story.  I don't believe you told us what you did before 1996 or what Merle
did.  What the calamity has done to you, him and your family.  A picture of
him before and after.  You have to sell yourselves and make people want to
help you.  I'm assuming you are not active in an organized church, because
ordinarily you would be helped in droves if you were, but that is exactly
the kind of feeling you have to proffer.