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Hurricane Victims Need Your Help; Take A Moment to Make a Contribution
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The Upstate is opening its heart and wallet to assist victims of Hurricanes Wilma, Rita, and Katrina. Local charities are also organizing relief efforts and accepting donations to send, and the opportunities to contribute are endless:
Area American Red Cross Chapters have already sent volunteers and emergency vehicles to the Gulf, and are continuing to mobilize additional resources to join the organization�s largest-ever relief effort. Volunteers and monetary donations are needed; Red Cross members will use the donations to buy items for victims. For more information, contact local Red Cross offices:
Piedmont Chapter
104 Garner Road
Spartanburg, SC 29303
864.583.8000
http://chapters.redcross.org/sc/piedmont/
Union County Service Center
303 W. Main Street
Union, SC 29379
864.427.7991
Cherokee County Service Center
301 N. Limestone Street
Gaffney, SC 29340
864.489.6066
The Red Cross has also issued an urgent call for O blood-type donations. To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call 1-800-GIVELIFE.
Several local businesses are collecting for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund:
- The Piedmont Chapter has partnered with BB&T and WSPA News Channel 7 to collect donations for the Relief Fund. Donations may be made at the Chapter�s website, at any BB&T branch, and the Piedmont Chapter office at 104 Garner Road in Spartanburg.
- BI-LO/Bruno�s supermarkets announced a $25,000 match in funds donated. Shoppers can request to scan a special Red Cross card at the check out to donate $1 or more to the relief effort. 100% of the funds collected will be donated to the American Red Cross and BI-LO/Bruno�s will match the donations up to $25,000.
- Regions Bank is taking donations.
- WestGate Mall is collecting donations at the Customer Service Center. In order to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina, WestGate Mall's parent company is organizing a collaborative effort called �CBL Hurricane Help�. To harness the strength of its 72 regional malls, including WestGate Mall, many CBL properties are partnering with organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, other charitable and civic groups, as well as local radio and television partners, to use the malls as a donation center. All contributions are tax deductible.
Area schools, colleges, and universities are also providing aid:
- Wofford College has already conducted fundraising drives, and more activities to raise money for relief are planned. For information, contact Dr. Ron Robinson, Perkins-Prothro Chaplain, at (864) 597-4051 or [email protected].
- Clemson University has designated the American Red Cross as recipient of all campus fundraising efforts for hurricane vicitm assistance, and Red Cross and campus volunteers will collect donations at every home footall game.
Cudd Memorial Baptist Church at 1301 Boiling Springs Hwy. is accepting donations 4-8PM, Monday - Saturday.
Items will be sent to a partner church in Mississippi or Alabama. Items needed are: bottled water and drinks, baby products,
hygiene items, cver-the-counter medical supplies (band-aids, antibiotic ointment, etc.), non-perishable food (ONLY SEND CANS WITH PULL TOPS), paper products, zip-lock baggies, trash bags, manual can openers, batteries, flashlights, radios (battery operated), cardboard boxes. PLEASE DO NOT BRING CLOTHING AT THIS POINT.
Fatz Cafe will match every dollar in guest and associate donations up to $25,000 to the Salvation Army�s Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund.
Currently, Fatz Cafe restaurant guests are encouraged to add $1 to their dining bill, but they are able to make a monetary donation of their choice. In addition, Fatz Cafe associates can voluntarily deduct a portion of their paychecks to aid the relief effort.
His Radio 89.3FM is working with YMCA in South and North Carolina to collect pre-paid gas gift cards, phone cards, and credit cards to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Cards can be dropped of at YMCAs in both states.
Inman City Hall is collecting items for hurricane victims.
Joe Gibson's Mitsubishi/Suzuki at 496 W. Main Street and Spartanburg Community Church are collecting supplies to send to hurricane victims. Baby items, toiletries, canned food, medical supplies, wash cloths and towels, can openers, batteries, and flashlights are needed, as well as bottled water, plastic cups, plates, and utensils. Call 864-585-5700 for more information.
Millenium Motors at 11304 Asheville Highway is a drop off site for canned foods with pop tops, toiletries, and baby items. These items will be taken to Biloxi. For more information, call Rita Gilbert at 205-7062.
Mount Zion Full Gospel Baptist Church at 320 Wembly Drive, Spartanburg is collecting toiletries, non perishable items, and clothing for families that have come to live in the Upstate. For more information, call Sherry Gory, 864-582-1733.
The Salvation Army has deployed volunteers and resources to the Gulf, and is accepting donations by mail and at the local office at 226 W. Main Street.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff�s Office is collecting donations to benefit the families of the New Orleans Law Enforcement at First National Bank of Spartanburg, 215 North Pine St. Checks should be made payable to the New Orleans Police Department.
Donations to the NOPD can also be sent to the Spartanburg County Chaplain's Benevolent Fund in care of Trinity Presbyterian Church, 500 Oak Grove Road, Spartanburg, S.C. 29301.
Spartanburg Day School is collecting monetary donations and items for families relocating to Spartanburg until Sept. 30. The school has already helped one family find housing, furniture, food and necessities, nd gift cards to WalMart and Bi-Lo. SDS has identified two more families in need of assistance, and will be collecting for these families once their exact needs have been determined.
For information on the welfare of animal victims of the storm, or to volunteer for or donate to a disaster relief team, contact the Spartanburg Humane Society. Community members interested in supporting these efforts can contact Natalie DiGiacomo at 864-583-4805 (ext. 118).
TB Associates Construction Company is collecting food and water along with toiletry items. There is a trailer located in the parking lot of the Union Square Cinemas and Hardees in Union. There is a volunteer on site to assist in unloading items. Contact: Tradd Bruce 426-2337 or Bill Harris 426-0448.
Tyger River Fire Department is collecting bottled water, handheld snacks (granola bars, energy bars, beef jerky, crackers with peanut butter), canned meals (soups, stews, chili, and pasta), paper plates, cups, utensil, and diapers. They have 3 collection points: 1090 Gap Creek Road, 355 Locust Street, or Bi-Lo parking lot Highway 29 in Lyman. These items will be distributed through America's Second Harvest and transported to Hurricane Katrina Victims.
For information on relief efforts in Greenville and other locations across the Upstate, click here.
The following organizations' web sites include tips for avoiding fraud and other scams when contributing to relief efforts:
Additional giving opportunities are available online.
(Images provided by the American Red Cross and Bi-Lo.)
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