LJWorld.com / Charities welcome cash donations for victims

Archive for Friday, September 17, 2004

By Jodie Krafft - Special to the Journal-World

September 17, 2004

Lawrence residents who wish to contribute to relief efforts in the Southeast are encouraged to do so with monetary donations.

The Salvation Army and American Red Cross are accepting cash donations for victims of Hurricane Ivan, as well as hurricanes Charley and Frances.

"We've never really accepted other types of donations," said Jane Blocher, executive director of the Douglas County chapter of the Red Cross. "The most cost-effective way to help is with a cash donation."

Blocher said local donations to the Red Cross for Charley and Frances so far have totaled less than $1,000, excluding online donations.

The Salvation Army has collected about $1,000 for victims of Charley and Frances. There have been no donations specifically designated for Ivan, said Paula Gilchrist, social services director.

"I imagine we'll be getting some, though," she said. "It's just one (hurricane) after another after another."

Donations may be sent to:

The Salvation Army, 946 N.H., Lawrence 66044, www.usc.salvationarmy.org or (800) SAL-ARMY.
The American Red Cross, 2518 Ridge Court, Lawrence 66046, www.redcross.org or (800) 435-7669.

Donations can be marked "disaster relief," "hurricane," or with the name of the hurricane.

-- Kansas University journalism student Jodie Krafft can be reached at 832-7154.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a proclamation Thursday instructing state agencies to assist in expediting the movement through Kansas of any emergency equipment, supplies and services headed for Alabama.

The proclamation states that it "is an effort to facilitate relief efforts in Alabama and to ensure that victims of Hurricane Ivan receive emergency assistance from Kansas and other states as quickly as possible."

It speeds up the time to get permits and routes for oversized loads, said Al Gerstner, administrator of the motor carrier services bureau of the Division of Vehicles in the Kansas Department of Revenue.

He said the expedited services were routinely made to help during natural disasters.