San Benito County residents have donated over $27,000 to the Red
Cross for tsunami victims, helping the international organization
meet its overall fundraising goal of $1.2 billion.
Hollister – San Benito County residents have donated over $27,000 to the Red Cross for tsunami victims, helping the international organization meet its overall fundraising goal of $1.2 billion.
“With the effect of the tsunami, there was quite an outpour,” said Michael McLennan, volunteer chair of the local Red Cross chapter.
Most residents donated through the Red Cross’ national Web site, which tracks donations by city and zip code, McLennan said. Others came into the Hollister office in person or donated through smaller groups’ efforts, like the Ladd Lane School penny drive, which handed its donations over to the local Red Cross on Jan. 31. At a January city council meeting, City of Hollister employees donated $150 from their holiday campaign, and the local chapter of League of United Latin American Citizens donated $200.
San Benito County has a history of generosity in times of need, McLennan said.
“The people of San Benito County during the Loma Prieta earthquake and more recently during 9/11 … that’s one great thing about the community here. When there’s something big, they rally around it,” he said. “On behalf of the Red Cross, we’re very pleased with the community.”
And McLennan hopes locals will keep up the good work.
“The response has been great for the tsunami, but just to let everyone know, disasters happen every day in our county, citywide, nationwide, worldwide. There’s many ways to help,” he said.
Good Samaritans can continue to donate money online or in person, volunteer their time or donate blood, McLennan said.
San Benito County residents’ goodwill during this disaster is indicative of the sentiment of the country and the world as a whole, McLennan said. The international Red Cross has raised $1.2 billion in donations and pledges in the last month, enough to meet its immediate and future needs according to the organization’s Web site. Part of that funding has already gone to purchase and distribute hygiene kits, tents, kitchen utensils and mosquito nets to tsunami survivors in southeast Asia.
Other organizations aiding in the relief effort include the Salvation Army and UNICEF. The San Benito County and Fairview 4-H clubs have been collecting donations for UNICEF with donation boxes at businesses throughout San Benito and Santa Clara Counties.
Individual donations can be made at the San Benito Red Cross office at 300 Tres Pinos Rd. in Hollister or by visiting the organization’s Web site at www.redcross.org. You can also call the local office at 831-636-2100 . To make donations to UNICEF or the Salvation Army, you can also visit http://unicef.org or www.salvationarmy.org.
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at [email protected].
