Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, Too! Collecting Supplies for Shipment to Haiti

/PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta-based Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, Too! (www.fodac.org), is coordinating a community effort over the next two weeks to provide much-needed non-perishable medical supplies and relief items to the victims of Haiti's recent earthquake. FODAC is collecting blankets, crutches, walkers, orthotic braces, wheelchairs, bandages, medical gloves, etc. at the organization's warehouse in Stone Mountain, Ga. The items will be shipped to Haiti within the next few weeks.

FODAC is partnering with Portlight Strategies of Charleston, S.C., (www.portlight.org) and the Weather Underground (www.wunderground.com) to ship and distribute the items. Thanks to funding from the Weather Underground, Portlight Strategies already has staff in Haiti to coordinate the distribution effort, as well as a truck packed with supplies, en route to Haiti now by ship.

"FODAC provides over $8 million worth of home health mobility and daily living equipment each year to people with disabilities or injuries," said Chris Brand, executive director of FODAC. "Most of the equipment we provide to children and adults consists of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other mobility devices. However, we have a number of items such as manual hospital beds, medical supplies and extra crutches and walkers that we stockpile for international relief efforts. A disaster like an earthquake leaves countless victims with broken bones and other mobility injuries. We have the equipment to donate. All we needed was a way to get it to Haiti."

FODAC owns a 64,800 square-foot warehouse at 4900 Lewis Road in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Donors may drop off supplies between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday through Feb. 6. Directions to the warehouse may be found at http://www.fodac.org/clients/directions.php.

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Atlanta Haitian Group Galvanizing Support for Earthquake Victims

Medical supplies, shoes, blankets, disinfecting wipes, water, food items desperately needed

An Atlanta based nonprofit organization, The Haitian Alliance, Inc. (www.transformhaiti.org), announced today its plan to partner with 20 other Haitian organizations in the metro Atlanta area and Hosea Feed the Hungry to provide aid and assistance to the victims of the recent earthquake that shattered the lives of millions in the tiny Caribbean nation of Haiti.

The Haiti Disaster Relief Project was formed under the umbrella of The Haitian Alliance, Inc. to collect and distribute needed items to the victims of the January 12th earthquake. A team of local volunteers will travel to Haiti with the donated items to provide hands-on assistance with the distribution as well as real time reports of the impact of the project and information gathering to enable plans for long-term support.

An estimated 30,000 Haitians live in the metro Atlanta area. Most have family in crisis in the country and many are desperate for means to provide help as well as information on the well-being of loved ones. The Haitian Alliance, Inc., established in 2006, has at the core of its mission the education of the people and the reforestation of the land.

Mr. Saurel Quettan, public relations officer for The Haitian Alliance, Inc., said, “We must now galvanize our strengths and resources to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We know the depth of their sorrow and the magnitude of their loss. Haitian people are courageous and resilient, but this is more than any of them have ever had to endure. With the help of the local and international community, Haiti will rise again.”

Cash contributions are needed most and can be pledged on our website at www.transformhaiti.org. Donations of supplies are also being collected throughout metro Atlanta and surrounding areas at over ten designated collection centers. For a list of these centers as well a list of needed items, please visit our website at www.transformhaiti.org and click on “collect” or call 888-499-6509.

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Suggested supplies:

Water purification tablets
Medicine/Medical Supplies: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, pain killers, antibiotics, analgesics, peroxide, bandages, gauze, crutches, wheelchairs, cervical collars, splints, and items needed for field surgery, specifically, IV anesthesia
Non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods in easy-to-open containers
Tents, cots, camping equipment, lanterns, sleeping bags
Sheets, blankets, pillows, towels
Toiletries
Port-a-potty
Solar lanterns/lamps
Clothes/Shoes
Pre-mixed baby formula, diapers
Body bags
Donation centers throughout the metro Atlanta area at the following locations:

Clayton County

Jonesboro High School
7728 Mt Zion Blvd, Jonesboro, GA 30236; (707) 473-2855

Forest Park Middle School
930 Finley Drive, Forest Park, GA 30297; Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 2:00PM, until January 22nd

Cobb County

All-N-1 Security Services
3915 Cascade Road, Atlanta, GA 30331, (404) 472-3032; Mon - Fri: 11:00AM - 3:30PM

Argyle Elementary School
2420 Spring Road SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

Fhadi
685 Windy Hill Road, Su. A, Smyrna, GA 30309; Contact: Jean Claude Ledoux; (770) 374-4588

WRFG Radio
1083 Austin Avenue N. E., Atlanta, GA 30307; Mon - Fri: 11:00AM - 6:00PM;

DeKalb County

Cafe Fasika
447 North Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston, GA 30021; Contact: Herold Ulysse; (404) 499-0997

Stone Mountain Club Intrigue
5471 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Helen Seiz
1165 Lea Drive, Roswell, GA 30076

St. Bridgid Catholic Church
3400 Old Alabama Road. Johns Creek, GA 30022

St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
2560 Tilson Road. Decatur, GA, 30032

Northside Women's Specialists
1015 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA 30076; Mon - Fri: 8:00AM - 3:30PM

NWS OBGYN
980 Johnson Ferry Rd. #620, Atlanta, GA 30342; Mon - Fri: 8:30AM - 3:30PM

Real Source Brokers
650 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30030; (404) 819-8014; Mon - Fri: 9:30 - 3:30PM

Fulton

South Fulton Theophile Church
950 Custer Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316; Contact: Frantz Pinet; (404) 624-9432

City Storage
726 Ponce de Leon Place, Atlanta, GA 30306; Mon - Sat: 9:00 - 6:00PM; Sun. 10:00 - 2:00PM; Contact: Jeff Ferguson; (404)853-3303

Project South
9 Gammon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30315; Mon - Fri 3:00 - 7:00PM

Marco's Pita
752 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306; Mon - Fri: 10:00 - 7:00pm; (404) 607-0071

Mindzai Multimedia
728 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30312; (404) 222-9337

Wax Wednesdays at Ixtlan
2160 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324; Mon - Fri: 11:00 - 6:00PM

The Mix at Glenwood
1263 Glenwood Avenue Atlanta, GA 30316; Wed: 7:00pm - Midnight

Village Montessori School
1610 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA 30075; Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 5:00PM; Sat: 7:30a - 1:00PM; (770) 552-0834

Gwinnett County

Fisherman Church
300 Merchant Drive, Norcross, GA 30091; Contact: Pasteur Leroy
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Students raise money, collect items for Haiti earthquake victims

Georgia State University students are pitching in to help the victims of this week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Members of the Georgia State Volleyball Team, for example, collected nearly $1,000 in just over 90 minutes from fellow students in the campus Library Plaza on Thursday. Assistant coach Ada Bazin, who encouraged the team to get involved in relief efforts, delivered the donation to the Metro Atlanta Red Cross chapter in midtown Red Cross Friday morning.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of giving there was on campus,” Bazin said. “Students were stopping and digging in their wallets and pockets for anything they could give. That was truly amazing. I think this tragedy has pulled at a lot of heart strings and we all hear the call for help in Haiti.”

Georgia State’s Haitian Student Association is also collecting funds for Yele Haiti and tangible household items such as clothing and toiletries that will be sent to the island community through a local Haitian church. Collection boxes can be found around campus.

The two-year-old Haitian Student Association, which is the only one in the state of Georgia, has about 70 members, some of whom are personally affected by the disaster, said president Rodney Alfred.

“We’re trying to do all we can to help,” he said.

GSU also has six citizens of Haiti who are currently enrolled, three of whom are Fulbright scholars in public health. All international students from Haiti were contacted by phone within 24 hours of the disaster and were invited to make use of various campus support services, including the University Counseling Center, said Heather Housley, GSU director of International Student & Scholar Services.

“The university is very concerned about our Haitian students and their families and is helping as much as possible during this difficult time for their country,” Housley said. “We're continuing to connect with the students, to share resources and information as it becomes available and to assist the Haitian Student Association in their relief efforts as well.”

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Red Cross Aid Reaches Haitian Earthquake Survivors

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Truckloads of Red Cross supplies arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday and thousands of responders are traveling the streets, providing water and first aid as well as finding lost loved ones and transporting people with serious injuries to nearby health facilities.

"America's support - donations made in the United States to the American Red Cross - is reaching the hands of survivors in Haiti," said Steve McAndrew, disaster relief specialist with the American Red Cross in Port-au-Prince.

Within the convoy that arrived yesterday are 50-bed field hospitals and purification equipment capable of producing 10,000 gallons of drinking water per day. The mobile hospitals have a dedicated section to help people cope with emotional trauma. Toys and specially-trained volunteers will be available to comfort children, who are particularly vulnerable.

An additional seven truckloads of equipment and materials including medical supplies, that were on Red Cross planes re-routed to the Dominican Republic Friday, are traveling overland and are expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince by Sunday. Two flights will arrive in the capital city, carrying enough relief supplies for more than 32,000 families, on Monday as well.

The American Red Cross team and responders from more than 30 countries, totaling 100, have now arrived and are providing a wide-range of support, including food, water, field hospitals, emotional support and sanitation services, alongside thousands of local volunteers.

"We are working with the Haitian Red Cross volunteers, who have intimate knowledge of the community," said McAndrew. "Survivors are receiving aid from their neighbors, who they know and trust, with support from the international community."

On Monday, American Red Cross President & CEO Gail McGovern will travel to Port-au-Prince to join other Red Cross leaders in assessing the relief efforts and planning for long-term recovery.

"Our focus now is on the immediate relief for the people of Haiti, but make no mistake, this is going to be a massive long-term recovery operation," McGovern said.

Since the earthquake struck, more than 19,300 people have registered with the International Committee of the Red Cross-sponsored Web site (www.icrc.org/familylinks) helping to reconnect families separated during the earthquake. Almost all of the registrations were from people searching for news about their relatives, although around 1,400 people have so far used the site to say they are safe and well.

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'Phones for Haiti' Cell Phone Recycling Program Launched

/PRNewswire/ -- ReCellular today announced a new way for Americans to provide support to the millions of victims of the January 12th earthquake in Haiti. Used cell phones can be sent in by downloading a prepaid mailing label at www.phonesforhaiti.com, with the proceeds going to the American Red Cross' charitable efforts.

"The devastation in Haiti is slowly becoming all too clear," said Steve Manning, ReCellular CEO. "Sending in your used phone is a simple and effective way to help with the rescue and rebuilding efforts already underway."

There are an estimated 130 million phones retired in the United States every year. If even a small percentage of them are sent to Phones for Haiti, it would contribute millions of dollars towards relief from the devastating earthquake. ReCellular will give 100% of the phone value as a contribution to the American Red Cross; charities have already earned more than $20 million dollars in contributions through their partnerships with ReCellular.

With rescue and repair missions already underway, it is critical that funds get to the region quickly. By using the postage paid label, supporters can have their used phones to ReCellular within just a few days, allowing for the rapid distribution of funds. All phones are accepted, though newer phones will provide the most value to the charity - in some cases $100 or more.

"The overwhelming response from all Americans to the crisis in Haiti reflects the depth of generosity of the American people," said Manning. "We are proud to be able to coordinate this opportunity when the need is so great."

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CARE Deploys Additional Emergency Team Members to Haiti

/PRNewswire/ -- CARE is deploying additional emergency team members to the devastated city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti, where the worst earthquake in 200 years destroyed houses and left thousands homeless. While the exact death toll from the 7.0-magnitude quake is not yet known, it is expected to be catastrophic.

CARE has launched an international appeal for funds for Haiti that will support immediate emergency operations. CARE plans to start food distribution using stocks of high-protein biscuits from its warehouses in Haiti. CARE is coordinating with other UN agencies and aid organizations to assess damage and on-the-ground needs.

Initial reports are that homes and buildings across the city have been destroyed, including essential services like hospitals. Electricity is out and phone lines are down across the affected area, restricting available information about the extent of the disaster. Aftershocks continue to rock the area and have caused landslides outside the city.

Sophie Perez, CARE's Country Director in Haiti, was in the CARE office in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit. CARE's staff in the Port-au-Prince office escaped the office safely, but we are still trying to determine if all other staff in the area are safe.

"It was terrifying. It lasted for more than a minute," said Perez. "The whole building was shaking. People were screaming, crying. Last night, people were sleeping outside because they were afraid to go back inside their homes. Many of the houses are destroyed anyway. There were eight aftershocks last night. Everyone was sleeping in the streets. The whole city is affected. It is just morning here now, and I can hear helicopters working on the search and rescue. The immediate need is to rescue people trapped in the rubble, then to get people food and water. We're particularly worried about the children, because so many schools seem to have collapsed. Children were still in school in the afternoon when the earthquake hit, so there are many children trapped. It's horrifying."

Dr. Helene Gayle, CARE president and CEO, said, "This is an extremely serious situation. We currently have 133 personnel on the ground in Haiti and are deploying additional staff immediately to distribute food, hygiene kits and water, as well as to deliver emergency health services."

CARE has extensive experience responding to disasters of this magnitude. Many of CARE's staff in Haiti include emergency personnel who were part of the response to the devastating Hurricane Hanna in 2008. CARE began working in Haiti in 1954 to provide relief assistance after Hurricane Hazel. Today CARE's work in Haiti includes projects in HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation.

Delta Air Lines, a long time CARE partner, is providing transportation support for Atlanta-based CARE staff into Haiti to support our Haiti Country Office team on the ground with emergency relief.

To Donate: Go to www.care.org or call 1 800 521 CARE.

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Habitat for Humanity Will Address Housing Needs in Haiti After Major Earthquake

/PRNewswire/ -- Habitat for Humanity International is currently assessing the impact on affordable housing in Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince. Habitat for Humanity will develop an appropriate response as need and available resources become clearer.

"Habitat for Humanity will mobilize all available resources to address shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday," said Torre Nelson, area vice president of Habitat for Humanity International's Latin America and Caribbean office. "We are closely monitoring the situation and have been in contact with Habitat for Humanity Haiti. We will begin Habitat's recovery efforts as soon as possible."

"Habitat for Humanity is sending an assessment team into the impacted area," said Kip Scheidler, senior director Global Disaster Response, Habitat for Humanity International. "Once we know the full magnitude of this disaster, we'll begin Habitat's recovery process."

Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and will use its local expertise and mobilize resources as part of the rebuilding efforts. Habitat has provided more than 2,000 families with housing solutions through a variety of initiatives including new home construction, progressive building, home repairs and improvements. It also builds capacity in construction skills, disaster mitigation and financial literacy, and works in coordination with community and government agencies.

The number of affected persons is unknown, however, Haiti's ambassador to the U.S. has called the quake a "catastrophe of major proportions."

Habitat for Humanity's ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations. Donations can be made at www.habitat.org.

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The Community Foundation Announces Nonprofit Toolbox

The Community Foundation's commitment to strengthening and supporting our region's nonprofit sector includes more than giving financial grants. Nonprofits can now apply for the Nonprofit Toolbox, a program that helps strengthen organizations’ management, governance and operations.

Nonprofit Toolbox awards are not financial grants; they are custom-designed packages of management consulting to help solve a key organizational challenge or problem. Organizations selected to receive a Nonprofit Toolbox will work with a specialist who will construct a package of appropriate organizational assistance.

Who is eligible to apply? There are a number of eligibility criteria for the Nonprofit Toolbox, one of which is that the nonprofit be located and providing services within the Foundation’s 23-county service area. Review the Guidelines for complete information.

Is there a deadline to apply? Nonprofit Toolbox applications are accepted throughout the year and in 2010 will be reviewed in mid-January, mid-May and mid-September. Review the Guidelines for complete details.

Click here for a full description of the Nonprofit Toolbox and to download the Guidelines and Application Forms.
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Autism Society and AMC Entertainment® to Host Sensory Friendly Films® This January

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis. Sensory Friendly Films® premiered across the country in August 2008, and will continue this month with a showing of Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel on January 9.

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It often comes with sensory challenges, such as hypersensitivity to light or sound, and children or adults affected by autism may not understand the social boundaries of movie theatre etiquette, such as not talking during the film or sitting still through most of the show.

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for children with autism or other special needs, AMC movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event.

Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel
Saturday, January 910 a.m.

AMC Discover Mills 18, 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Ste. 415, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30043
AMC Phipps Plaza 14, 3500 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30326
AMC Southlake 24, 7065 Mount Zion Cir., Morrow, Ga. 30260

A list and map of participating theatres is available at www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms. This nationwide event has 87 participating theatres in 46 markets.

An estimated 30 million people in the world have an autism spectrum disorder, 1.5 million in America alone. Every day in America, 67 families learn their child has autism. These families face challenges of care, support, education, financial hardship and medical and health care issues that make autism a national public health issue, costing the U.S. economy $60 billion a year. Though there is no cure, autism is treatable and individuals with autism have tremendous potential.

ABOUT THE AUTISM SOCIETY:
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org.