The local Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross and all Maine Red Cross Chapters are accepting donations for disaster relief in Haiti. The American Red Cross has increased to $10 million its commitment in response to the devastating Jan.12 earthquake. The American Red Cross has seen an outpouring of support and concern from the public and raised nearly $4 million for Haiti earthquake relief in the two days following the disastrous quake.
The Red Cross is now most in need of financial contributions — whether by check, online, by phone or mobile text – in order to best serve earthquake victims.
Clothing, food and household item gifts are not helpful right now because there is nowhere to store them, no one to sort them and it would be difficult to transport the items to Haiti.
According to Red Cross officials there are nearly a dozen ways for people in eastern and northern Maine to make a gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund and help those affected by the Haitian earthquake. Online gifts can be made at www.redcross.org or www.pinetree.redcross.org. Credit card or debit card gifts may be made by phone to the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS, with a designation of the gift to Haiti relief or by calling any one of the Pine Tree Chapter’s four offices. The Caribou office number is 493-4620.