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HURRICANE KATRINA
The Clarion \ September 9,2005
Red Cross needs vohmtd
Editor's Note: This is part of an email sent to the student body by
Dee Dasburg. Melissa Paschuck, Assistant Dean of Campus Life
went to a Red Cross
meeting Sept. 2 and had
these comments.
The main purpose of
the meeting at the Red
Cross this evening (Septem
ber 2) was to make sure that
efforts of area churches and
the College are coordinated
and not being duplicated, [f
a refugee contacts any
agency in Brevard or
Transylvania County at
large (police, community
services, ctc.), the agency is
referring the person directly
to the Red Cross as the first
contact for assistance.
The Red Cross would
like us to do the same by
contacting them before
beginning any individual
relief effort as they are the
hub for resources and services. (The Red Cross was sure to
mention there are other agencies that are also providing assistance
and encouraged us to send our money, time, etc. to them if so
desired).
If a person or family in need contacts them, the Red Cross is
able to help them find a place to live, give them cots and blankets,
comfort kits, and money to purchase clothing and food. The state
of North Carolina has agreed to continue welfare and Medicaid
services for refugees from the disaster areas, as well as integrate
Septemtier 1, 2005. Weary evacuees from New Orleans rest In the
Houston Astrodome. Photographer: Daniel Cima/Amerlcan Red
Cross
Gas lines
Drivers in Brevard felt the crunch from Hurricane Katrina last week wh^n ■ r
from the Gulf Coast to Georgia and the Carolinas was damsn^nT.T supplying fuel
reporu. service along the pipeline had been largely restored bv Fridav
to suffer from shortages even a week after the storm continued
school age children into local schools.
The Red Cross needs help now, but the need for help
with this disaster will continue for a long
time ... think a year or two or more.
The Red Cross expressed the follow
ing needs:
• Volunteers to participate in training
and to be deployed to the disaster areas to
assist now AND later (see more informa
tion below);
• Monetary Donations;
• Places of any kind for individuals
and families to live including summer
homes, rooms in a house, apartments, etc
(Contact the Red Cross to give them
information on the space you have
available and they will match it to the
needs of the victims and then help the
victims contact you.);
• Peer Counselors to help victim deal
with the effects of the disaster;
• Local volunteers to assist refugees in
navigating the area, finding services,
obtaining jobs, etc.; and
• Day care for refugees with children
so that parents can work.
Note: There are already 12+ families in the Brevard area
that are in the process of being placed into living space.
The Red Cross will accept donations of the following:
• Water;
• Non-perishable food items (Manna Food Bank in
Asheville is also accepting donations); and
• Comfort Kits and help assembling the kits (tooth brush,
tooth paste, washcloths, soap, comb, shaving cream,
disposable razors, feminine products, coloring books, and
crayons).
The Red Cross prefers that you
donate the items in the comfort kits in bulk
or in large, organized groups of tooth
brushes, tubes of tooth paste, bars of
soap, etc. They have bags labeled “Red
Cross” that they distribute the kits in.
You can drop off your donations at
the Red Cross in College Plaza. They will
have volunteers in the parking lot and
have a trailer to put the items in. You may
also go to the office to drop off donations.
The Red Cross will not accept
donations of the following:
• Clothing (The Red Cross prefers to
give victims money to purchase new
clothing that fits them and will also refer
them to places such as The Sharing House
for clothing needs beyond their clothing
allowance);
• “In Kind” Donations (These are
small donations of individual items. The