American Red Cross Northwest Arkansas Chapter

HURRICANE KATRINA:
DISASTER RELIEF IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Volunteering Host your own fundraiser for Red Cross	Donations Placing families with families
Taking care of displaced pets	Help with clean-up
The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross greatly appreciates the outpouring of support our community has shown to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and our organization's relief efforts. However, due to the enormous scale of the relief operation, we are unable to accept truckloads of assorted items such as clothing, toys, canned foods or supplies. We have a network of corporations with whom we partner to provide bulk distribution of relief supplies. At the Red Cross we are providing relief to tens, even hundreds, of thousands of victims. When we accept a donation from a community relief drive, we must then dedicate hundreds of manhours to sort the items collected. Our volunteers are on the ground to fulfill our life-saving mission of feeding and sheltering. We will only add to the frustration and misery of the storm's victims if we delay the relief in sorting and warehousing. We must be fast, efficient, and effective in the delivery of food, water and supplies. Please consider making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster relief fund by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or on the internet at www.redcross.org. If you are compelled to collect items for distribution, please make sure that you have a relief organization in the area ready to accept your donation. The Salvation Army may be accepting these items. Please call ahead.
VOLUNTEERING The American Red Cross could not fulfill our lifesaving mission without volunteers. The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross is actively recruiting and training ALL KINDS OF VOLUNTEERS. We need many office volunteers to keep up with the daily activities during our response to Hurricane Katrina. Come in for a few hours, or stay all day! Our hours are 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. during disaster. If you are interested, download and print our Volunteer Application(PDF). Fax the filled-out application to our office at 479-442-5053, or bring it to our office at 250 Industrial Circle East in Tontitown. We need help with answering the phones, opening and processing mail, data entry, updating our website, and photocopying training materials. There is a new schedule of classes for volunteers interested in assisting the relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Find more information in our Press Room. Email Carmen at cnewberry@nwarkansasredcross.org with any additional questions.
FUNDRAISING If you would like to host a fundraiser benefiting the National Disaster Relief Fund, you will need to complete a 3rd party fundraising agreement. Third Party Agreement - Hurricane Katrina (.doc) Third Party Agreement - Local (.doc) This document validates your efforts while protecting the integrity and reputation of our organization. Please download the Word document, complete the areas highlighted in yellow, sign and fax to Jody Dilday, Director of Development, at 479-442-5053. The "local" document is for those interested in raising money for the Northwest Arkansas Chapter.
DONATIONS You can make monetary donations at www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-HELP-NOW. Washington Regional Medical Center is also accepting donations at their website. Click here. Our chapter is not accepting in-kind donations (food, clothing, etc). Please call your local Salvation Army to find out about donating goods for hurricane victims. Critical necessities listed by the Salvation Army to be used in shelters like the one in Siloam Springs:
Hand sanitizer Hand wipes Shampoo Soaps Toothbrushes Toothpaste Feminine Hygiene Products Ziplock bags Towels Washcloths Diapers Ready-to-feed baby formula Pre-paid phone cards Baby food stage 1 & 2 Band-aids Clothing for men, women, children; all sizes Shoes; all sizes Socks	Sharpie markers Batteries; size D, AA Flashlights Individually packaged snacks Baby bottles Reading material Bibles Backpacks Duffle bags Pillows Anti-septic cream Brushes Games, toys & coloring books for children Bottled water Toilet paper Paper towel Cleaning supplies
For information, call 479-521-2151 To make monetary donations, call 1-800-salarmy
PLACING FAMILIES WITH FAMILIES The Chapter is being flooded with calls from individual families offering to house indivuals and families who have evacuated their homes and sought refuge in Northwest Arkansas. Although we greatly appreciate the generosity of our neighbors, the Red Cross is not coordinating an effort to place families with families. If you would like to help these families in a personal, face-to-face manner, please volunteer to work in our evaucation shelter. Links: Open Your Home Katrina Housing Opportunities
TAKING CARE OF DISPLACED PETS A shelter has been set up in Fayetteville for some animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. They expect animals may begin arriving as early as Friday, September 9. The shelter is located at 2650 N. College, in the former North College Animal Hospital. This shelter is solely being run by volunteer manpower, and it was established through coordination between Fayetteville Animal Services and the Humane Society of the Ozarks (HSO). WE NEED YOUR HELP! Since this shelter cannot operate without volunteers and donations, we are asking for assistance from our shelter's volunteer base. They need the following types of donations:
Time (if you can provide caretaking and clean-up for animals) Cash Dog & Cat Food Stainless Steel Bowls Cat Litter Blankets & Bedding Towels & Rags Newspapers	Cleaning Supplies Trash Cans and Bags Crates or Exercise Pens (X-Pens) Litter Boxes/Scoops Leashes Toys Grooming Gear (brushes, combs, doggie wet wipes, dry shampoo, etc.) Handi-wipes for Disinfecting Hands
Please contact Karen Rodgers or call the shelter at 479-444-3456 to arrange drop-off of your items. If you can donate your time, please contact Karen so that she can coordinate a schedule. Karen Rodgers Volunteer Coordinator, Fayetteville Animal Services Pet Assistance League (P.A.L.) 479-251-8787 H
Help With Clean-Up For those interested in working on the clean-up efforts in the disaster areas, the Department of Labor is taking calls at 1-866-487-2365.