dcpak - donations

Save Pakistan from 'Donor Fatigue'

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:47:43 -0500

From Christian Science Monitor

By Karl F. Inderfurth, David Fabrycky, and Stephen P. Cohen
WASHINGTON - Time is running out for tens of thousands of survivors of the 7.6 earthquake that devastated parts of Pakistan on Oct. 8, claiming more than 73,000 lives and leaving 3 million homeless. Winter is fast approaching. Experts believe 1 million people are at risk of hypothermia. Two hundred thousand villagers in more remote areas may soon be cut off by snow. A "second wave" of deaths from cold, hunger, and disease is feared.

DC Relief Effort

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:35:56 -0500

The news for the past few days is that JFK is filled beyond capacity with donated goods and that PIA is having to turn back donations.

The DC area community, led by Azar Abbasi, Farah Chohan and a large number of volunteers have been spending their weekends loading and unloading donations from the community.

Urgent $2,500 Donation Requested

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 10:55:19 -0500

Today through the efforts of Azar Abbasi, his team of volunteers and PDC member support we have been able to mobilize an effort to transport one container full of Relief Items for victims of the Pakistan Earth Quake. JFK is flooded with Relief Items bound for Pakistan and we are having problems with our container shipment. However Azar Abbasi is in New York today negotiating with PIA to ensure that the container gets on a PIA flight headed for Pakistan where the folks from Rural Support Network (www.rspn.org) are waiting to receive the Relief Items consignment.

Reconciling Donations

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:42:17 -0500

Visit this section to find out how you can help continue to support the relief effort.

I've spent the last few days working with a large number of enthusiastically dedicated individuals who have been sorting out thousands of boxes of donations, transferring them from ADAMS to a warehouse and onto a tractor-trailor.

We've had to turn away a large number of donors. Some have been sending in regular clothes and an unusual odd assortment of utterly unnecessary goods. Now only tents, medical supplies and blankets are being accepted; no exceptions.

ADAMS Center Needs Volunteers

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:47:22 -0500

ADAMS Center needs a large number of volunteers for the next few days to sort out donated goods. I was there last night and was enlighted by the comradarie and spirit of the team effort.

Volunteers are needed for the following days and times:

Thursday. 5pm - 9pm

Friday. 9am - 9pm (several volunteers must come in the morning)

Cleaning out Closets

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:36:01 -0500

I am working with PIA and ADAMS Center in Sterling and have collected over thousands of items, mashallah. Many people are giving with good intentions but there are people that during the month of Ramadan, are cleaning out closets. And what I mean is, OLD USED UNDERWEAR

We have gone through boxes and have felt disgusted with what people donate. I say if you can give something that you have ..please do so..but if you don't then it's okay.

PODA appeal for help for vehicle, tents, and other supplies

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:20:03 -0500

Dear Friends:
This is Sameena Nazir from Pakistan. I need your urgent attention to our latest update below. Please take a few minutes to read and help if you can. Please also pass on this message to others you know who may be able to help. Thanks.

----------------------

UPDATE: Monday, October 16, 2005
Our Pakistani NGO, PODA has sent two teams to the worst hit areas of the earthquake in Kashmir.

Need More DC Drop-Off Locations

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:52:07 -0500

While communities from Seattle to New York have provided extensive information on drop-off locations, there has not been a similar level of coordination for the Greater DC community.

Individuals and organizations in the area need to come out and offer some space to store relief items and a handoff to PIA and other distribution networks.

200,000 Tents Needed

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:36:49 -0500

The current priority is to get as many tents to affected populations as soon as possible. The winter weather will wreak greater havoc on an already grim situation. See also these news items from BBC and NPR.

DC Item Drop-Off

Sun, 16 Oct 2005 13:19:29 -0500

Pakistan International Airlines is flying supplies out to Pakistan from New York City for FREE on Saturday Oct. 22. They are in need of the items below. There are several drop off points in DC, MD and VA area.

The DC drop off is at 1320 Vermont Ave NW Washington DC 2005, you
can contact Sadaf Tajammal at (703) 200-4626 to drop off at her place.

Urgent Appeal for Medical Supplies

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 09:17:02 -0500

Dear Friends,

Urgent need for the Surgical supplies, in particular the orthopedic equipment.

After the roads were opened, there has been a massive influx of trauma patients at the Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad, most being treated in make shift tents outside the hospital building. It has become the first stop for all surgical emergencies for people being evacuated from the areas destroyed north/northeast of Abbottabad.

Companies Offering Corporate Matching

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 01:13:29 -0500

OPEN (Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America) has listed companies that have established donation matching programs with relief organnization(s). If you are from one of these companies, please contact the HR department to get more details:

AMD - Hidaya, Intl. Red Cross.
Applied Materials
Bearing Point - Intl. Red Cross.
Cadence Design Systems - Hidaya, Islamic Relief, Hidaya, Intl. Red Cross. (upto $500/employee)
Cisco - Edhi Foundation - $1-to-$1 upto $1M.
Fujitsu Computer Systems - Intl. Red Cross.
Fujitsu Microelectronics
GE
IBM
Intel Corporation - All registered non-profits 501 (C)(3)s (upto $10,000/employee).
Juniper Networks - Hidaya, Intl. Red Cross.
Microsoft - Islamic Relief, Hidaya, Intl. Red Cross.
Oracle - All U.S. registered non-profit 501 (C)(3)s.
Qualcomm
SUN Microsystems - All U.S. registered non-profit 501 (C)(3)s.
Wells Fargo

In addition they have instructions and a sample letter for approaching your company about corporate matching opportunities.

Reach Out to All Americans

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 00:32:57 -0500

We are writing to encourage you to reach out to all Americans, regardless of ethnic background. While it is important for Pakistani Americans to give and give generously, we believe that the community should also reach out to other Americans. We know that some of you have already begun to do so.

To facilitate this, we have produced the attached flyer. This document -- with its message and suggested list of relief agencies -- was drafted with a target audience of all Americans in mind.

Now, here's where you come in.

We ask you to take one or more of the following steps: