Dear Border Community SERVICE Volunteers and Partners,
We know each other because of our shared interest in promoting emergency preparedness and in helping others during the aftermath of disaster. Several volunteers have called to ask how they can help with Haitian relief efforts. We’ll know more soon; but, at this time, I’d like to offer the words of New York State Governor Patterson who stated:
“I also know that New Yorkers are caring people. They want to do something. They want to help. But with the extensive damage to the Haitian infrastructure, the best way New Yorkers can help right now is to donate what they can – one, five or ten dollars – to credible organizations who can get the goods and supplies that are needed into the hands of the people who need them.”
Some of these organizations, and information on how to donate, are listed below, and posted on http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/HelpingHaiti.html.
(Note: Additionally, members of the Niagara University community have been encouraged to consider donating to Catholic Relief Services at http://www.crs.org/while those who attended our August conference and listened to the powerful message of David Campbell, founder and CEO of Hands on Disaster Response, may wish to consider contacting that organization at www.hodr.org to offer your help now and in the future.)
We have been asked to share the following advice: “Cash donations avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing donated goods and cash donations also help get the local economy back on its feet.”
As another day passes into darkness, the frightened, injured, homeless and desperate people of Haiti are in all of our thoughts. I am deeply grateful to have met many wonderful, generous people during my five years with Border Community SERVICE and hope you will accept this message with the spirit in which it is sent.
Nancy Brennan Blundell
Director, Border Community SERVICE
PO Box 2040, Niagara University, NY 14109-2040
Phone: 716 286-8304; FAX: 716 286-8016; Cell: 716 390-9676
- To make a donation, visit https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?4306.donation=form1&idb=428732091&df_id=4306&JServSessionIdr004=yxa9a0v901.app194a;
- To donate by text: dial “HAITI” to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
UNICEF
- To make a donation, visit https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6680&6680.donation=form1;
- You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.
Yele Haiti
- To make a donation, visit http://www.yele.org/;
- You can also text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.
Operation USA
- To make a donation, visit http://www.opusa.org/;
- To donate by phone call 1-800-678-7255;
- Send a check to:
Operation USA
3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A
Culver City, CA 90232
3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A
Culver City, CA 90232
Partners In Health
- To make a donation, visit https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&subsource=homepage
Mercy Corps
- To make a donation, visit http://www.mercycorps.org/haiti;
- To donate by phone call 1-888-256-1900;
- Send a check to:
Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR
P.O. Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
Direct Relief
Oxfam
International Medical Corps
- To make a donation, visit https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=878
For Immediate Release: January 14, 2010
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ONLINE REGISTRY
OF NEW YORK CITIZENS IN HAITI
Web-Based Survey, Toll-Free Phone Lines Go Live at Noon Friday
Hotline Telephone Number Established for Those Who Don’t Have Access to the Web
OF NEW YORK CITIZENS IN HAITI
Web-Based Survey, Toll-Free Phone Lines Go Live at Noon Friday
Hotline Telephone Number Established for Those Who Don’t Have Access to the Web
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has established an online registry of New York State citizens in Haiti at the time of Tuesday’s horrific earthquake. The creation of the registry is the first step in what may be a lengthy process of locating New Yorkers. Both the web-based application and a toll free telephone hotline will be activated at noon Friday.
“Presently there is little information from Haiti because the earthquake caused extensive damage to Haiti’s infrastructure,” Governor Paterson said. “Although there is a massive international relief effort under way, it will take time until Haiti’s infrastructure is restored and systems are in place to help locate and identify individuals.
“However, collecting information now about New York citizens in Haiti will help locate them once information becomes available,” the Governor added. “Once the massive response to this catastrophe is in place, I am sure a number of organizations will work to reunite loved ones. This registry will be of vital importance to that effort.”
To access the online registry, go to the Governor’s website, www.ny.gov/governor/ and click on the New York State Registry of New York Citizens in Haiti. You will be asked to provide the name of the individuals you have not had contact with and provide some essential contact information. The information collected will not be used or shared for any purpose unrelated to locating and identifying family and friends in Haiti.
For those who do not have access to the web, the Governor has established a hotline – 1-888-769-7243 – staffed at the Department of Taxation and Finance which has provided this same service during responses to the World Trade Center attack in 2001, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and the recent emergency closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge in October 2009. The hotline will be operations from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Governor Paterson said that New York State agencies continue to work with federal and City officials identifying resources that may be requested by the Federal government in this massive relief effort. The Governor has pledged all available State resources to this effort.
“Once again, let me express to the Haitian community overseas and here in New York that the thoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers continue to be with you in this darkest of hours.”
“Presently there is little information from Haiti because the earthquake caused extensive damage to Haiti’s infrastructure,” Governor Paterson said. “Although there is a massive international relief effort under way, it will take time until Haiti’s infrastructure is restored and systems are in place to help locate and identify individuals.
“However, collecting information now about New York citizens in Haiti will help locate them once information becomes available,” the Governor added. “Once the massive response to this catastrophe is in place, I am sure a number of organizations will work to reunite loved ones. This registry will be of vital importance to that effort.”
To access the online registry, go to the Governor’s website, www.ny.gov/governor/ and click on the New York State Registry of New York Citizens in Haiti. You will be asked to provide the name of the individuals you have not had contact with and provide some essential contact information. The information collected will not be used or shared for any purpose unrelated to locating and identifying family and friends in Haiti.
For those who do not have access to the web, the Governor has established a hotline – 1-888-769-7243 – staffed at the Department of Taxation and Finance which has provided this same service during responses to the World Trade Center attack in 2001, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and the recent emergency closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge in October 2009. The hotline will be operations from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Governor Paterson said that New York State agencies continue to work with federal and City officials identifying resources that may be requested by the Federal government in this massive relief effort. The Governor has pledged all available State resources to this effort.
“Once again, let me express to the Haitian community overseas and here in New York that the thoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers continue to be with you in this darkest of hours.”
I also know that New Yorkers are caring people. They want to do something. They want to help. But with the extensive damage to the Haitian infrastructure, the best way New Yorkers can help right now is to donate what they can – one, five or ten dollars – to credible organizations who can get the goods and supplies that are needed into the hands of the people who need them.”
No comments:
Post a Comment