The American Red Cross-NMI Chapter has already collected over $8,000 in monetary contributions for the tsunami victims in Asia and would continue to receive donations for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n
Red Cross executive director John Hirsh disclosed yesterday that Red Cross staff would conduct a sweep this week, collecting donations from boxes placed at the Marianas Visitors Authority, Office of the Governor, and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the figures are still out, and we\u2019re going to start collecting funds from the boxes we placed out there this week,\u201d he said in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
Hirsh said the over $8,000 collected are primarily from members of the community\u2014families and individuals, from children to elders\u2014who have shown support for the relief efforts for victims of the tsunami disaster currently faced by many in Asia. That amount does not include the $5,000 recently pledged by Triple J.<\/p>\n
He said several non-profit organizations have also donated checks, and also mentioned that the children of Betty Johnson took their Christmas money and donated it toward the relief efforts.<\/p>\n
Other families have also trooped to the ARC-NMI Chapter headquarters to contribute.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt the appeal should really be a grassroots one,\u201d he said. \u201cAs much as we appreciate corporate donors, it’s nice to see people from all walks of life digging into their pockets and contributing to those who really need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are saying \u2018I am so blessed to be alive and for the things I have, so I\u2019m going to give to those unfortunate [ones],\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Hirsh said people in the Commonwealth can relate to the disaster because of the similar environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiving on an island like we do, we drive down Beach Road and see water, so we can imagine how it would be like and we can really relate and enhance the appreciation of the disaster,\u201d he said. \u201cThe event touched everybody\u2019s lives, young and old, rich and poor. It\u2019s a tragedy beyond anybody\u2019s imagination, and seeing the community come out dollar-by-dollar shows the goodness of the hearts of the people in the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hirsh said he is required to report contributions to the American Red Cross twice a week, and that the NMI Chapter sends out contributions once a week.<\/p>\n
Reports from Associated Press indicate that the disaster has killed at least 150,627 and many are still considered missing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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