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Local agencies seek monetary donations in Haiti relief effort
Mar 19, 2010
By David Owens, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com
January 15, 2010 10:50 am
— Local chapter representatives of the Salvation Army and American Red Cross are asking those who can give to support humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
On Tuesday, the island nation was rocked with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, the most severe earthquake in over 200 years. More than 50,000 residents are believed dead with many more injured.
Captain Bill Mockabee of the Laurel Salvation Army said no gifts in kind such as clothes, water, etc., were being accepted.
“It’s all monetary and you can do that through the Salvation Army at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or www.salvationarmyusa.org,” he said. “Five dollars goes a lot further in a place like Haiti where 80 percent of people live in poverty. If you’re writing checks and sending them in, you need to put on the memo line that it’s for Haiti.”
Mockabee said the Salvation Army was one of the first relief groups on the ground because they already operate two schools there.
“They have 1,500 kids through that, and none of them were injured,” he said. “However, all of the buildings have been compromised. They are setting up a triage center and giving whatever services they can out of the parking lot and playground at the school.”
Mockabee said he is also working with the Laurel High School Key Club to do a red kettle drive, likely in front of Wal-Mart.
“One hundred percent of the money collected would go to Haiti,” he said. “We haven’t gotten the particulars worked out yet.”
According to the Salvation Army’s Website, those wishing to give can also text the word ‘Haiti’ to 52000 to make a $10 donation.
Peggy Owens-Mansfield, executive director of the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the national organization has already pledged $1 million to assist those in Haiti.
“If a donor designates that money go to a specific operation, we are honor bound to make sure that it is designated for that operation,” she said. “The local chapter can take donations from the public for Haiti. All we do is deposit it, write a check and send it on.”
Owens-Mansfield said those wishing to do so can mail checks to the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross at P.O. Box 2913, Laurel, Miss., 39442.
“You need to specify that you want it to go to Haiti,” she said. “You can also send it to the general disaster relief fund.”
Similar to the Salvation Army, Owens-Mansfield said the local chapter has been receiving calls of those wishing to donate items.
“We’ve had well-meaning people who want to donate clothes, water or food supplies,” she said. “There is absolutely no way that we can receive and/or ship that. The very best that anybody can do is donate money through the Red Cross’ number (1-800-RED-CROSS) or the local chapter.
“It’s just impossible to receive goods as opposed to money,” Owens-Mansfield said. “Money can be put to work. We’ve had people ask about volunteering, but they are only deploying volunteers that are specially trained for international work.”
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens abroad should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.
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