Continuing pay and benefits for Katrina victims; offering aid to displaced businesses so people can get back to work

NPR reports on various Gulf area employers continuing pay and benefits for their employees affected by Katrina. And Fast Company shows how one creative business is reaching out to a displaced business.

Companies mentioned by NPR include Harrah's, Northrup-Grumman, McDonalds, Harrah's, and Wal-Mart. Want to know who's being most and least generous? Take a guess, then listen to the brief story:

"Firms Work to Locate and Pay Displaced Workers," by Jack Speer.

Another angle on employment relief for Katrina victims came through a link on the Fast Company blog to an offer posted by Brains on Fire, an identity company that builds and revitalizes brands for companies, products and services.

"Brains on Fire" makes this offer on its blog:

Brains on Fire occupies a space in Greenville, South Carolina that is about 11,000 square feet. We have some extra space toward the back of our first floor that we are planning to use for future growth. There are about 10-12 office spaces in total, complete with a furniture system. I was planning on short term subleasing the space, but I would be happy to donate it to a design/creative firm that has been displaced. We would, of course, consider any business in need, but my thinking is someone might benefit from our resources and vendor connections.

These folks are using their brains to find win-win opportunities rising from the ruins. Can you?