Monetary Gifts to the International Response Fund Allow For Quickest Relief
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Monday, January 18, 2010 – The Greater Rochester Red Cross resumed its phone banks at 9 am today to accept monetary donations for Haiti relief efforts. The phone banks will be open from 9 am to 7 pm though this Wednesday for people to call in and make financial donations to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
“In two days, the Rochester community raised $227,177 through the telethon to support and help Haiti,” said John Buttrill, CEO of the Greater Rochester Red Cross. “Collectively $233,502 has been raised to date including online donations and Chapter walk-ins over the weekend. All of these donations go directly towards supplies of food, water, shelter, hygiene kits, and medical services.”
After 7 p.m. phone lines donations can be accepted by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or by going to www.RochesterRedCross.org. We will continue to monitor the situation and determine how long phone banks will be in place before normal operation hours resume.
“So far the American Red Cross has raised more than $87 million for relief efforts,” Buttrill said. “$12.6 million alone is from the Text “Haiti” campaign. We’re making progress but we know that we are going to spend much more than that to help the people of Haiti. Recovery is going to take years.”
HOW TO HELP
• The American Red Cross is only accepting monetary donations.
• Call 585-241-4417 to make a credit card donation by phone
• Send a check payable to:
American Red Cross International Response Fund
P.O. Box 14390, Rochester, NY 14614-0390
• Text “HAITI” to 90999 and a $10 donation will be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund for Haiti relief.
People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is helping reconnect separated families in Haiti. People in Haiti and outside the country can register the names of relatives missing since the earthquake at http://www.icrc.org/familylinks. As of Sunday morning, more than 21,600 people had registered with a special Red Cross Web site to help people search for their loved ones.
For more information please contact Nadine Krimow, Communications Manager at the Greater Rochester Red Cross at nadinek@grcarc.org or by calling 585-370-1834.
About the American Red Cross
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
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