Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund

General Discussion
1

Ok folks, Lee V and I are ponying up the first $300 for a Swaylock’s donation to help those who were injured by massive earthquake & tsunamis in Southeast Asia and Africa. Any amount is welcome, no amount too small, and any form of donation is encouraged, through any avenue you want…send money to your favorite charity if you want, give blood, donate in kind if you have the means. Swaylocks is a great community and I bet we can help, even if its only a little. Remember this could have been any of us ocean lovers. Maybe there’s not much we can do about peace on earth, but we can sure try to help people who’ve got problems.

If you want to do something directly, here’s a list from Associated Press of agencies taking donations for relief:

The following aid agencies are accepting contributions for assistance that they or their affiliates will provide for those affected by the earthquake and tidal waves.

Action Against Hunger

247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201

New York, NY 10018

212-967-7800

http://www.aah-usa.org

American Jewish World Service

45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10018

800-889-7146

http://www.ajws.org

ADRA International

9-11 Fund

12501 Old Columbus Pike

Silver Spring, MD 20904

800-424-2372

http://www.adra.org

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund)

1501 Cherry Street

Philadelphia, PA

215-241-7000

http://www.afsc.org

Catholic Relief Services

PO Box 17090

Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

800-736-3467

http://www.catholicrelief.org

Direct Relief International

27 South La Patera Lane

Santa Barbara, CA 93117

805-964-4767

http://www.directrelief.org

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres

PO Box 2247

New York, NY 10116-2247

888-392-0392

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

International Medical Corps

1919 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 300

Santa Monica CA 90404

800-481-4462

http://www.imcworldwide.org

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

PO Box 372

CH-1211 Geneva 19

Switzerland

41-22-730-4222

http://www.ifrc.org/

International Orthodox Christian Charities

Middle East Crisis Response

PO Box 630225

Baltimore, MD 21263-0225

877-803-4622

http://www.iocc.org

Lutheran World Relief

PO Box 17061

Baltimore MD 21298-9832

800-597-5972

http://www.lwr.org

MAP International

2200 Glynco Parkway

PO Box 215000

Brunswick, GA 3121-5000

800-225-8550

http://www.map.org

Mercy Corps

PO Box 2669

Portland, OR 97208

800-852-2100

http://www.mercycorps.org

Northwest Medical Teams

PO Box 10

Portland, OR 97207-0010

503-624-1000

http://www.nwmedicalteams.org

Operation USA

8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200

Los Angles, CA 90069

800-678-7255

http://www.opusa.org

Relief International

11965 Venice Blvd. #405

Los Angeles, CA 90066

800-572-3332

http://www.ri.org

Save the Children

Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund

54 Wilton Road

Westport, CT 06880

800-728-3843

www.savethechildren.org

US Fund for UNICEF

333 East 38th Street

New York, NY 10016

800-FOR-KIDS

http://www.unicefusa.or

World Concern

19303 Fremont Ave. N

Seattle, WA 98133

800-755-5022

http://www.worldconcern.org

World Relief

7 E. Baltimore St.

Baltimore, MD 21202

443-451-1900

http://www.wr.org

World Vision

PO Box 70288

Tacoma, Washington 98481-0288

888-56-CHILD

http://www.worldvision.org

2

Were on it here, too. 100 bucks. Mike

3

Keith and Lee - Great idea! Are you collecting funds in the name of Swaylocks, Paypal to Mike, or simply send to one of the charities you’ve taken the time to list?

4

If we’re doing it with Swaylocks name, lemme know - or I’ll just donate to one of the charities. I’d like to do it in the name of Swaylocks though, would be cool.

aloha

Bryan

5

OK, as of this morning the death toll is over 40,000, and millions are homeless… critical need for help!

Basically any of the above methods of works, although time is obviously of the essence in getting help out, so if you’d rather send to, e.g. the Red Cross/Red Crescent or any other disaster relief organization, that is wonderful too.

I haven’t talked to Mike about PayPay donations but I can’t imagine he’d have any real problem with that…

If anyone wants to send in funds, I will be happy to collect and donate whatever comes in as a Swaylock fund. Sounds like we already have some folks willing to help THANK YOU ALL!

Try to mark stuff as “Swaylocks Relief Fund” or something like that – but I will assume that any cash, checks, money orders or other funds that show up in the next couple weeks are earmarked for this purpose.

ALOHA

6

Some quick thoughts:

Good on Keith and Lee.

Dispersal deserves some thought. Give the funds to one organization or many? Might I suggest OXFAM. They are noted for their water and sanitation expertise. An alternative might be to pick an area, possibly one where surfers have existing connections, and focus on local needs - for example, the remote coastal islands of Indo.

Good luck.

Patrick

7

Absolute devastation throughout the region. Latest news reports 50,000 dead and climbing. They need help and they need it fast.

If you have any concerns over how your donation is allocated or to which charity you donate, here is a charity ratings website that spells out what they do with your money. Pick one off Keith’s list, check it out and send what you can.

http://charityguide.org/charity/charityratings.htm

8

Thanks Keith. Difficult to imagine a fraction of the magnitude of suffering over there! Used John Mellor’s suggested website to note that “Lutheran World Relief” has an A+ rating for effectiveness with donations. Sent $100. Prayers help too.

9

no need to thank me. Thank YOU for helping others.

Death count is now over 60,000. Homeless kids everywhere. These people will be needing food, water, & shelter, not to mention medical supplies.

If everybody helps a little bit, it will add up.

10

Thanks for the information.

11

If you want to make every dollar count, wooden boat mag is MATCHING (dollar for dollar) contributions made through their site… www.woodenboat.com

7/10

12

WAVES OF COMPASSION

http://www.surfaidinternational.org/index.html

13

There are lots of good charities out there, just pick one and donate TODAY! Help out people in need.

14

Wife and I are sending out $200 via Worldvision today.

JohnF

15

You’re a good man Big John!

16

I give to one of the above organizations each year.

They just announced today that they will be moving $25 Million

to the Asian Tsunami area.

I want to make a point, that there are people in Asia,Africa, India etc

who are in need of help every year…from WindowScreens on Hospital

windows in high Malaria areas to basic necessities of food.

Dont wait for a disaster.

My organization Catholic Relief Services which collects in the US and spends all

its money overseas in the third world, already has $25 million to push

that way because their donors give each year. Of course they’ll need

their funds replenished by people like me.

But the point is that I dont have to hurry and donate.

As a longtime supporter, the group already exists, keeps money in its coffers, and has expertise

in the area.

Beware of Fad/Scam organizations that will be sure to instantly crop up

with appropriate names like ‘Asian Tsunami Relief and Burnt Childrens Fund’ etc…

Pick from the established groups whose donations 90% or more go to help

the unfortunate.

http://www.charitywatch.org/azlist.html

17

Hal, I totally agree with all of your points. But this particular disaster has the potential to overwhelm “normal” relief efforts. I mean, the earthquake was so large that it moved all of Sumatra 120 feet west, and caused the Earth to wobble enough to change the length of the day! That just isn’t in the normal realm… Yes, every day people need help, but this is really extraordinary… I applaud you and others who care enough to help on a regular basis… just trying to suggest that maybe this time everyone could pitch in, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

OK I will shut up now, no more soapbox for me. Aloha.

18

Death toll currently at 125…

Donated today, via donation buckets at local shoping centre…

NYE is tonight, so I’m shore everyone will chip in whilst parting,

Thanks to everyone donating.

19

Not really, all my common sense and good will is attributed to my better half. Without her I would probably be still living in a cave and riding wooden planks :wink:

I talked to some Amateur Radio folks and they are building teams that are going down to the remote areas to provide comm’s. What a challenge.

May the upcoming New Year be better for all of us.

Best 73,

JohnF de AA6QN

20

For what it is worth this group - www.kbi.org - looks like they do a good job of getting the money to its destination. Below is a recent write up.

"My good friend Sir Ed Artis of Knightsbridge is heading up a massive relief effort to Sri Lanka. He has found $5.5 million of medicine and supplies, enough to fill a 747, and will be going to Sri Lanka, along with Dr. James Laws and other volunteers, to personally see that the supplies get to where it is needed most. Of course, he maxed his credit cards out at $108,000 to get the medicine, trusting that friends and donors will be found to help with the bill.

I don’t have to tell you how urgent the need is. You see it on your TV every day. Ed and the team are forming up and leaving as you are reading this letter.

Knightsbridge is an all-volunteer NGO (non-governmental organization) that has brought aid to some of the most dangerous and roughest spots in the world. These are the really, really good (if somewhat crazy) good guys. They have been featured on National Geographic and papers worldwide. When you donate to them, 100% of your money goes to the field. There are no salaries, “overhead expenses” or fund-raising costs.

I know that there are some very wealthy readers of this letter. For $130,000 plus your on ground expenses, you and your friends can outfit your own mission. Knightsbridge can show you where to get the discount medicine, help arrange shipping and diplomatic contact to get them in country and will either meet the plane or be on it with you. Now that’s an adventure to tell the grandkids about, and you will save the lives of 1,000’s of someone else’s grandkids and grandparents. Call me direct if you are interested.

Every penny is needed. You can help. You can learn more about Knightsbridge by going to www.kbi.org and send a tax-deductible check (it is still 2004, at least in your checkbook, is it not?):"

Knightsbridge International

PO Box 4394

West Hills, CA

91308-4394