National News Concerning the American Red Cross

You can help the victims of hurricanes, floods and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

Tsunami Update - 2 Year Recovery Report

January, 2007

This Report provides an inside look at the ongoing work of the American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program—the unique initiatives serving the needs of tsunami-affected populations, the dedication and resolve of survivors working to restore their communities, and the skilled American Red Cross volunteers and employees whose day-to-day efforts help move recovery forward.

Please note that updates on our recovery work in response to the December 2004 tsunami will be made available through these reports.

Donations contributed to the American Red Cross Internati onal Response Fund enable the Red Cross to help those affected by this crisis and countless others around the world each year.

  • International Response Fund: The IRF will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance, and other support to those in need.
  • How to Donated to the IRF- Those wishing to help can:

You can help those affected by this crisis and countless others 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. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243,

Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Local Red Cross chapter: American Red Cross of Ottawa County, 270 James Street, Holland, MI 49424

The American Red Cross responded immediately to the disaster and established contact with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva offering support through relief supplies, financial assistance or personnel as requested by our sister International Red Cross and Red Crescents societies there.

  • Response operations are being coordinated with international Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, as the situation evolves and more information becomes available regarding emerging needs. It is likely that our worldwide partners may need many different types of assistance in the days and weeks ahead.

When a disaster like this strikes – whether domestically or internationally, people want to help and often offer individual and/or collections of good or in-kind items to show their support for the victims; however, the Red Cross does not have the capacity to accept or collect, and does not actively solicit, individual or collections of in-kind donations in times of disaster.

  • Donations of Unsolicited Goods Impact Relief Operations – In past disasters, donations of millions of pounds of clothing, food and medicine came in forming a backlog that actually hampered relief efforts.
  • Facilitation - Processing of individual items requires valuable and scarce resources.
  • Appropriateness - Spontaneous individual donations may not be appropriate for the relief effort or that there will be enough of a particular item to distribute them equitably.
  • Cost/Transportation – Shipping donated goods is costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster.

Local Procurement of Goods – The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to maximize donations by minimizing transportation and storage expenses. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet.

Financial support is the best form of assistance those wishing to help can provide those impacted by this tragedy.

 

270 James Street
Holland, MI 49424
Click for Directions
Hol/G.H.: 616-396-6545
Jenison: 616-667-0500
Fax: 616-396-3921
arcinfo@ottawaredcross.org