RI / Southeast MA : How you can help!

[kelleigh1]

I am a member of the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island distribution list. This morning, they sent out an updated email with many ways in which local residents can help with the relief efforts. Here is a copy of what they sent!!

1) American Red Cross is the lead agency responding to disaster relief
efforts from Rhode Island. They can be contacted at 401-831-7700. You
can go
online and register to volunteer at www.riredcross.org.

You may want to begin by looking at their Frequently Asked Questions
page
since it is difficult to get through on phone lines:
www.riredcross.org/gulfcoastfaqs.htm.

For people looking to deploy down south for efforts, you must be Red
Cross
trained before they are able to send you. They are offering a crash
course
version so that they can deploy people please look to their site for
what is
expected and required from volunteers:
www.riredcross.org/katrina-volunteerdeployment.htm.

2) Doctors or licensed nurses looking to deploy can contact Lori Tucker
at
401-615-9158. Lori is associated with RI-1 Disaster Medical Assistance
Team
and RI Medical Reserve Corps.

3) Community-action agencies around Rhode Island are requesting
donations of
diapers, baby formula, bedding, cleaning supplies, toilet paper,
toothpaste,
toothbrushes and other toiletries. They will be collecting these
supplies
until September 16th. The supplies will go to community-action agencies
in
Louisiana. Residents can donate the requested items, or cash, at any of
the
eight community-action program offices around the state, or at the
Rhode
Island Community Action Association headquarters, 224 Buttonwoods Ave.,
Warwick, RI 02886.

4) The Warwick Mall is an additional donation site for the Community
Action
Program effort and will be accepting donations on Thursday and Friday
(Sept.
8 and 9) from 3-8pm outside of the Carousel Food Court. They are
collecting
diapers, bottled water, clean sheets and blankets, pedialyte, personal
products, baby formula and sleeping bags.

5) If you are looking for a loved one go to
www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina
or call 1-877-568-3317 (the website offers French and Spanish
translations).


6) www.projectstarfish.org is looking for people to temporarily foster
animals or donate pet food, supplies or money. www.aspca.org and
www.hsus.org are also helping in the support of displaced pets.

7) Cardi's Furniture is doing a drive for relief supplies at their
three
locations on September 9th from 6am-6pm. They are looking for towels,
washcloths, shampoo, feminine products, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair
combs
and brushes, new socks, bottled water, baby wipes, baby diapers, band
aids,
pop top cans, etc. They will also be collecting money for the RI
Community
Food Bank, The Salvation Army and American Red Cross - go to their
website
for more information www.cardisfurniture.com.

8) Angelo's on Federal Hill is looking to raise $2000 for the Red
Cross.
From now until September 24th for every full plate spaghetti or ziti
dish
you purchase, $5 will be donated, until they reach the $2000 goal.

9) A Salon Galleria & Spa is hosting a spa fund. A great way to do
something
nice for yourself while doing something nice for others. On September
18th
from 12-5pm the salon is offering manicures, pedicures, hair cuts,
massages
and facials for only $15 a service. All proceeds from the fundraiser
will be
donated to the Red Cross and Salvation Army to assist in the relief
efforts
from Hurricane Katrina. Each service will last 10-20 minutes and is on
a
first come first served basis, so no appointments necessary. For more
information call the salon at 401-821-0400. The salon is located at
1015
Tiogue Ave, Coventry RI 02816.

10) United Methodist Committee on Relief is looking for Health Kits,
Water
and Blankets. They are accepting monetary donations for these kits or
you
can organize a group project and make these kits, please go to
www.umcor.org
and click on Emergency Health Kits for information on what is needed in
the
kit and how to send items.

11) Beacon Hospice is donating $20 for every patient admitted on our
services to the American Red Cross for hurricane Katrina victims.
Employees
are also donating to the American Red Cross for hurricane victims. Our
goal
is to donate a minimum of $10,000 by October 1.

Additional information will be added to our page on the VCRI homepage
at
www.vcri.org. Please check there for new information in the coming
weeks.


Thanks for connecting with VCRI!
Barbara Slover
Program Director
401-421-6547