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Fodorites - let's help!
I'm sure everyone has been glued to the TV as I have been, innudated with horrible images of the disaster in SE Asia. Many of us have been to these countries - we've enjoyed their hospitality, their generous spirits and the unrivalled beauty of their lands. NOW, LET'S HELP! If you haven't already, please take a moment and doante to the many aid organizations online. Fortunately, we don't have any family or friends travelling in the area, and our thoughts and prayers are with those families who are affected by this tragedy.
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Per another thread, here is a listing of several organizations in the US that are accepting donations to assist with Asia Tsunami Relief ----
American Jewish World Service 45 West 36th St., 10th floor New York, NY 10018 (800) 889-7146 http://www.ajws.org American Red Cross International Response Fund PO Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 (800) HELP NOW http://www.redcross.org Catholic Relief Services PO Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 (800) 736-3467 http://www.catholicrelief.org Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 (805) 964-4767 http://www.directrelief.org Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres PO Box 2247 New York, NY 10116-2247 (888) 392-0392 http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org International Medical Corps 11500 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 506 Los Angeles, CA 90064 (800) 481-4462 http://www.imcworldwide.org International Orthodox Christian Charities Middle East Crisis Response PO Box 630225 Baltimore, MD 21263-0225 (877) 803-4622 http://www.iocc.org Operation USA 8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200 Los Angeles, CA 90069 (800) 678-7255 http://www.opusa.org |
ttt
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From a news item in the Singapore paper, Doctors without Borders is no longer accepting donations for the SE Asia disaster. I didn't see Mercy listed but it is a well-regarded organization which was included in lists of organizations to donate to.
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i rceeived an email solicitation for clothes- but now i don;t know if it is for real or a scam. has anyone else gotten an email saying there is a new yorker living near phuket who will deliver goods to people? thanks i don't think it's a great loss to send the stuff anyway, but i did just want to know. thanks
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I dont know about the New Yorker but there have been reports of scams who are taking advantage of the tsunami disaster. God , have mercy on their souls.
Better donate to the right agency like Red Cross , Unicef or Mercy Relief. At least, it will give us peace of mind. |
I agree, the actual costs of sending the clothes probably outweighs the value. The person is probably quite honest as asking for clothes but at the moment what is needed in hard hit areas of Sri Lanka and Indonesia mainly is infastructure and so I would agree giving money to Red Cross etc is probably the best way. Homes and shelter, cooking equipment, water pipes etc are now the requirement. There originaly was a need for clothing mainly large sizes but that particular need has on the whole passed now.
The generosity of people has been amazing truly! |
In recent newspaper article:
Get tax break for tsunami donation: "On the Web: Find lists of legitimate tax exempt charities at: www.usaid.gov www.usafreedomcorps.com Now, donors who didn't get their checks in the mail by year's (2004) end have been given another chance. Last week, President Bush signed into law a bill that allows taxpayers to deduct contributions to tsunami relief efforts on their 2004 tax returns, as long as the money is donated by Jan 31. That means taxpayers who make charitable contributions this month won't have to wait until next year to deduct them. Supporters of the rule change hope it will encourage more people to contribute to tsunami-related relief efforts. The charitable donation must benefit the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami. Make sure the charity is a tax excempt U.S. organization. Direct contributions to foreign charities may not qualify, even if they're involved in tsunami relief efforts. You must donate money. Contributions of canned goods and clothing don't qualify for the special deduction. Pledges don't count. To qualify for the deduction on your 2004 tax returns, you must mail your check or charge your donation on your credit card by Jan 31 2005. If you donate to a tsunami relief agency this month, you can deduct the contribution on 2004 tax returns or wait and claim it when you file for 2005. |
Please do not send clothes. We just returned from Maldives, Singapore and Southern Thailand late Sunday night. What is needed is cash. At least 1/3 of donated items have had to be thrown out according to the Singapore paper (e.g., high heeled shoes).
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And please don't forget other people and places. The tsumani caused total devastation. And it's wonderful that people all over the world have responded.
But it's become a media circus - one that wasn't triggered by the eathquake in Bam (also on Boxing Day) in which about 40,000 died, and many more injured. Ditto the earthquake in Bhuj in India. Why? And Darfur. Don't get me wrong - I am in no way questioning the desire to help. I'm just wondering why some folk are more deserving of attention than others. |
... and yesterday there was a news story that some guy used the Mercy Corp name to solicite funds for the tsunami. It was a scam. There he was on the screen admitting that he saw no reason why he couldn't benefit by using the funds he received to purchase "stuff" for himself.
It's always best that YOU contact the reputable agencies, rather then responding to an unsolicited call. The Red Cross and Unicef and even MercyCorp, etc. do not make unsolicited calls. It's amazing the slime that crawls out from under the rocks at times like these. |
Just to clarify-
I was not suggesting you send clothes INSTEAD of money, but the gist of the email I received which was forwarded by people who work in a news network was that DESPITE the fact that aiuthorities want you to send money- these LOCAL PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DISTRIBUTE whatever you would like to send to them. Their address is: Americo Napolitano 13/5 moo 4 Ban Bangjo T. Sisunthorn A.Talang Phuket Thailand. It is up to You whether you want to do this. My thought is everything helps and this seems to be a legitimate person who wants to do his part on the ground. Here is the full text of the email (with names blocked out). :Hello! FYI, below is a recent update from our friend in Phuket, as well as a note from my husband. I am not sure if you sent anything yet but several of our friends have and it's beginning to show some great results. I know the Red Cross and other org's have said not to send clothing, hard goods or medical supplies but I can assure you that ANYTHING you can send will distributed by someone my family and I have known many many years, who has a 4WD truck and can personally get all donated items to those VERY POOR people who really need our help. Thanks again for helping out, and if you want please forward to your friends. (name of person) has a friend who lives in Thailand near Phuket. He is a New Yorker who moved there years ago. He and his family live upland and so survived the tsunami. We cleaned out all of our old t-shirts, shorts, socks, shoes, etc. and sent them to him as well as giving his address to other friends of ours with the request to do the same. Clothes are the most helpful according to Nubby (his nickname)and he is receiving and handing them out. If you do your spring cleaning now and have any clothes you can get rid of or supplies of any kind they would appreciate it immensely. Below is his address and a recent response from him. Again thank you for your thinking and wanting to help these people in desparate need. ---------------- Forwarded Message: Subj:Koh Lok and the Tsunami Date:1/12/05 5:33:52 A.M. Eastern Standard Time Well today we set off for Koh Lok which is on the mainland just across the bridge from Phuket. On the way we stopped at a school who has a student who lost both of her parents. A young girl about 11 years old that my wife (name)tracked down thru the national newspaper "Bangkok Post". At the same school another girl the same age lost her father to the Tsunami. The girls were very happy to get the gifts that (name)had sent over. We gave the girls the items that suit there age. At that school 5 students had lost there parents. Tublamu school is the name of there school and at another school on the way we dropped of the balance of the gifts. The second school had eleven students that had lost there relatives . And 5 students who lost there own lives. Today was my first look at Koh Lok which was the hardest hit of all of Thailand. I could not believe what I saw, the wave that hit there was 40 feet high. the same as a 5 story building. I cannot see how any one could have a chance for survival. It destroyed every thing in its path and travelled at least a half mile inland. The wave knocked out every resort hotel on the beach. I am talking about large 5 star hotels. The only ones that had a chance to escape the wave were high up on the hillsides. The wave had to kill every living thing in its path. Today is two and a half weeks and they are still looking and digging out bodies. You call and thank (name)and tell her that her gifts went to some sweet kids. Thanks again for all your ++++++++++++++++++++++ So, there you have it. Do what you want with this information. We are all trying to help and I think this person is offering a chance for you to do something else, too. |
Copy of my reply to kerikeri's related post on the Australia forum:
kerikeri, I'm not questioning this man's bona fides or your good intentions, but I can't see why this is an appropriate or effective way to deliver aid by comparison with the governments, NGOs and UN agencies working "on the ground". While aid is certainly going to Thailand and Sri Lanka, the focus of Australia's considerable relief efforts is the worst-hit country, Indonesia, in particular the province of Aceh. BTW, I suspect I'm not the only reader confused by the following statements: "IN ADDITION TO GIVING MONEY, if you want to send stuff to him, he is willing to distribute it" (Australia forum post) "I am NOT SAYING TO SEND HIM MONEY- just clothes and things" (2nd Australia forum post) "I was not suggesting you send clothes INSTEAD of money" (Asia board post) |
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