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Thursday, December 30, 2004

Duke City Banks Accept Tsunami Disaster Aid Donations

By Jim Ludwick
Journal Staff Writer
    Banks throughout Albuquerque will accept donations from people wanting to help deal with the Asian tsunami disaster.
    Mayor Martin Chávez, flanked by bankers and representatives of the Red Cross, predicted that every bank in town will participate.
    "Our goal is to make sure that if anybody wants to contribute, they can go in and make their contribution at any bank, any branch," Chávez said at a news conference Wednesday.
    Bettye Pressley, executive officer of the Red Cross Mid-Rio Grande Chapter, said the effort spearheaded by the Mayor's Office "is making it possible for people in our community to assist in a very easy way."
    She said Albuquerque residents will be able to tell any bank teller that they want to contribute to the American Red Cross South Asia Disaster Fund.
    Many banks already have put the program in place.
    Chávez said he hopes retailers and other businesses will participate as well, by offering to collect contributions from their customers.
    Edwina Larner, director of emergency services and public relations at the Red Cross chapter, said it's "really heartwarming to see how people respond to things like this."
    At the Red Cross office, "people in Albuquerque have been walking in and giving donations. Businesses have been calling, saying they will set up donation jars and bring them in," Larner said.
    "People are generous. They feel helpless in a situation like this. They are horrified at what they are seeing. They know the needs will be great," she said.
    At the moment, Larner said, the need is for money— not for local donations of goods or services, which would create "a logistics nightmare."
   
Where to donate
   

Archbishop Michael Sheehan has sent a letter to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe's 93 parishes, requesting a special collection for survivors on Sunday.
   

The Amma Center in Santa Fe is accepting donations. Known as the hugging saint, Amma's ashram in Kerala, India, provided shelter and food for more than 10,000 evacuees from nearby villages. Send donations to The Amma Center, P.O. Box 4820, Santa Fe, N.M., 87502.
   

Donate to the American Red Cross, Mid-Rio Grande Chapter, 142 Monroe NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87108.
   

Donate to South Asia Tsunami Relief, SAWSO, The Salvation Army National Headquarters, 615 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, Va., 22313.
   

Donate to United Way of Central New Mexico, 2340 Alamo SE, Second Floor, Albuquerque, N.M., 87106.