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PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

PLEASE READ and IF YOU CAN DONATE http://www.redcross.org/donate/goods/ The worst moments often bring out the best in people. Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes often ignite an outpouring of generosity from individuals and communities who are moved to assist those whose lives have been affected. The images of devastation prompt many to respond by donating goods for the victims. Donations of goods and services, also known as in-kind donations, can be valuable resources on a relief effort. However, misguided in-kind donations can also have the effect of hampering the relief effort if inappropriate or excessive contributions arriving at the disaster site impede the distribution of priority items. To prevent such a situation, the American Red Cross is very careful about the types of in-kind donations it accepts. The information provided here is intended to provide you with some background on how in-kind donations fit into Red Cross disaster relief activities, and information about the most effective ways to help when disaster strikes. An important first step when thinking about donating goods to any relief agency is to determine what their policies are on in-kind donations, and ascertain whether they have a need, or the means, to accept your donation. MONEY MATTERS Financial donations to the Red Cross are the best way to assist victims of disaster. Monetary contributions enable the Red Cross to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to victims as quickly as possible, without delays and hefty transportation costs. Because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate the weakened economy by pumping money back into area businesses. Donate Now COLLECTIONS OF GOODS AND INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and therefore cannot accept them. In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort. Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet. Where can donations of collected goods and individual items be most effective? Individual donations of goods and collections of items are put to their best possible use, and have the greatest impact economically, when they are donated to local charitable organizations within your own community. Donating locally eliminates transportation costs and ensures disaster workers are not overwhelmed with sorting unsolicited donations and are free to perform priority relief activities. Because these local agencies are not operating in the crisis environment that characterizes disaster relief, the charity will have the time sort, clean, and repair goods and identify how and where they can be most beneficial. BULK DONATIONS OF PRODUCT FROM MANUFACTURERS OR DISTRIBUTORS The Red Cross will sometimes accept bulk donations of products that are immediately needed on an ongoing disaster relief operation. "Bulk donations" refers to large donations of a single product. Because the quantities required on relief operations are significant, these donations are typically provided by companies that manufacture or distribute the product needed, and have the resources to ship it directly to the disaster site. If your company has a large bulk donation that you think would be appropriate for Red Cross relief efforts, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES The Red Cross may accept donations of medical equipment or supplies if the product meets a need of a Red Cross relief operation or program. The Red Cross follows guidelines established by the World Health Organization. All donated medications must be at least one-year away from their expiration date. Medications that have been issued to patients but that have not been used, and free samples provided to health care professionals, cannot be accepted for donation as their quality cannot be guaranteed. In addition, returned drugs are very difficult to manage at the receiving end because of packaging issues and the small quantities involved. If you are a company interested in making a bulk donation of medical supplies or equipment, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN-KIND DONATIONS Guidelines for Effective Giving in Support of Disaster Relief Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief. When Disaster Strikes… Donations Are Needed http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm Guide to Appropriate Giving http://www.interaction.org/disaster/guide_giving.html Guidelines for Effective Private Sector International Disaster Assistance http://www.cidi.org/donate.htm Information About Other Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster www.nvoad.org InterAction www.interaction.org Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov Guidelines for Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment www.drugdonations.org

Ummm Airports are not busy babe MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TRAVEL ADVISORY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL---Airline Advisory for September 04, 2004 Lufthansa has cancelled flights 462 and 463, to and from Frankfurt, Germany on Saturday, September 4, 2004. For additional information regarding Lufthansa’s flights, please contact the airline. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TRAVEL ADVISORY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL---Airline Advisory for September 03, 2004 P.M. Advisory MIAMI, FL---Miami-Dade Aviation Department is advising users of Miami International Airport that the following airlines will not operate flights today on Friday, September 3, 2004. American Airlines as of 1:00 p.m. Delta Airlines as of 12:45 p.m. Continental as of 1 p.m. Northwest as of 4:00 p.m. Gulfstream as of 1 p.m. United Airlines as of 6:00 p.m. US Airways as of 11:40 a.m. Lufthansa as of 3:45 p.m. Please note that all other airlines have ceased operations for today, including: Scheduled Domestic Carriers Alaska Airlines AirTran America West Comair Delta Connection Lynx Air International US Airways Express Scheduled International Carriers Aeropostal Air France Air Jamaica Alitalia Aviacsa Avianca Bahamasair British Airways BWIA Cayman Airways COPA Dutch Caribbean Airlines El Al Iberia KLM LTU LAB LACSA Lan Ecuador Lan Chile Lan Peru Martinair Mexicana Santa Barbara Airways Sol Air Surinam Airways TACA TAM VARIG Virgin Atlantic It should also be noted that Miami International Airport is not a designated passenger or vehicular shelter.

[glow=red,2,300]and if you need anything from us NYer's we are here :-* Be safe we luv ya.[/glow]

[glow=red,2,300]when he became a republican Ralph you're killing me.....come to the other side :-*[/glow]

Rachel ahahahaha and Bush makes his own decisions???? Hi I can't take a piss without Dick Cheny checking our Haliburton bank account this month. People need to wake up! In the words of MAXI JAZZ of FAITHLESS Whether HALLIBUTON OR ENRON GREED IS MASS DESTRUCTION John Kerry .............war hero, advocate for veterans and I believe truly cares about what happens to this country and it's people. George Bush..........Puppet for big business, murderer and liar. Nuff Said time for a change.

Incase it wasn't posted already.... THINGS YOU MUST BELIEVE iN ORDER TO BE A REPUBLICAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery. 2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq. 3. Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money But crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness. 4. "Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India. 5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation. 6. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton. 7. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay. 8. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican. 9. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. 10. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money. 11. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart. 12. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism. 13. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools. 14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion. 15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is a impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy. 16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet. 17. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business. 18. You support states' rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have the right to adopt. 19. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant. 20. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony. If you don't send this to at least 10 people, we're likely to be stuck with Bush for 4 more years. Friends don't let friends vote Republican.

Dade knows how to pick his resident! ;D Too bad you'll be missing it pal. Have a drink in Ibiza for me. :-* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2004 www.stryke.net DJ STRYKE official DJ for the MTV 2004 VMAs Miami’s Own Talented DJ/Producer Stryke to DJ MTV VMAs (Miami - August 27, 2004) – Miami’s own DJ/Producer Stryke (aka Greg Chin) is responsible for getting the MTV Video Music Awards party started and keeping it pumped Miami-style throughout the entire show this Sunday night at the American Airlines Arena. Stryke was chosen as the in-house DJ for this year’s VMAs in Miami following a recommendation from the Grammy’s coordinators. “We wanted to hire one of the best DJs around and Stryke is the perfect candidate. Luckily, he was available,” said VMA Executive Producers. As Miami gears up to host the Music Awards for the first time ever, some nominees like Jay-z, Beyonce, Fat Joe, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull and P. Diddy are already taking over Miami’s nightclubs, waterways, and highways. This Sunday, as Stryke spins the evening’s tunes, an estimated one billion viewers of MTV’s 42 networks will be blasted with music and hype and virtually attend Miami’s multicultural parties. “I am really excited about this gig for MTV in my own home town with all these amazing artists and in front of such a dynamic audience. This is going to go down in MTV’s book and mine as an unforgettable evening.” Stryke has done it all, from melting classic tracks into a groovy house sets to whipping 10,000-plus raging techno fans into a frenzy during his many global tours. Stryke’s Ad Finem project with the song, “If You Fall,” recently gave him a Billboard Hit. Stryke is currently building his relationship with newly formed label Circle (Intergroove/EMI/Germany), working out the details of his 2005 world tour and preparing for his residency at Nocturnal, Miami’s newest nightclub opening this October. Substance Recordings Greg Chin (Stryke) formed Substance Recordings in 2001 to showcase all genres of electronic music. Successfully signing several international artists, his first release was a hit with several, high profile DJs including Carl Cox, Josh Wink and Bryan Zentz. To learn more about Stryke and Substance Recordings please visit www.stryke.net

[glow=red,2,300]Dade knows how to pick his resident! ;D Too bad you'll be missing it pal. Have a drink in Ibiza for me. :-*[/glow] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2004 www.stryke.net DJ STRYKE official DJ for the MTV 2004 VMAs Miami’s Own Talented DJ/Producer Stryke to DJ MTV VMAs (Miami - August 27, 2004) – Miami’s own DJ/Producer Stryke (aka Greg Chin) is responsible for getting the MTV Video Music Awards party started and keeping it pumped Miami-style throughout the entire show this Sunday night at the American Airlines Arena. Stryke was chosen as the in-house DJ for this year’s VMAs in Miami following a recommendation from the Grammy’s coordinators. “We wanted to hire one of the best DJs around and Stryke is the perfect candidate. Luckily, he was available,” said VMA Executive Producers. As Miami gears up to host the Music Awards for the first time ever, some nominees like Jay-z, Beyonce, Fat Joe, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull and P. Diddy are already taking over Miami’s nightclubs, waterways, and highways. This Sunday, as Stryke spins the evening’s tunes, an estimated one billion viewers of MTV’s 42 networks will be blasted with music and hype and virtually attend Miami’s multicultural parties. “I am really excited about this gig for MTV in my own home town with all these amazing artists and in front of such a dynamic audience. This is going to go down in MTV’s book and mine as an unforgettable evening.” Stryke has done it all, from melting classic tracks into a groovy house sets to whipping 10,000-plus raging techno fans into a frenzy during his many global tours. Stryke’s Ad Finem project with the song, “If You Fall,” recently gave him a Billboard Hit. Stryke is currently building his relationship with newly formed label Circle (Intergroove/EMI/Germany), working out the details of his 2005 world tour and preparing for his residency at Nocturnal, Miami’s newest nightclub opening this October. Substance Recordings Greg Chin (Stryke) formed Substance Recordings in 2001 to showcase all genres of electronic music. Successfully signing several international artists, his first release was a hit with several, high profile DJs including Carl Cox, Josh Wink and Bryan Zentz. To learn more about Stryke and Substance Recordings please visit www.stryke.net

STOMPY ROCKS! Braciole if you don't vote you don't have a right to complain......cause you ain't helping change shit. We luv ya....now get off your ass and get to the booth.

[glow=red,2,300]Wait so the After Party is on the 28th?? Before the VMA's???[/glow]

Yea I'm Protesting by Voting Democrat across the board.........

[glow=red,2,300]Rap is killer you should check her out! She's going to be the one of the next A|X DJs as well. [/glow]

[glow=red,2,300]I'd rather have the under 21's listen to TIESTO instead of Jadakiss or other Hip Hop crap. They need to start learning somewhere.[/glow] ;D

[glow=red,2,300]Make that the 28th......should have read my ticket.... Nick time for a drink.....RED STRIPE ??? POD....duck and cover C-ya next week :-* Oh and the only kinda Ghetto Fab event that I am not minding is the Eminem / D12 invite ;D[/glow]

Yea nyclubscene is ****** aka JE A couple of people I know went there and he was supposed to take care of them. He swore he was one of the owners of QUO and then no one ever heard of him at the club. PASS.

[glow=red,2,300]I am going with some clients to the VMAs. A nice group of NY-fashionistas to stroll in the awards with. But now I see this "After Party" Itinerary we've been guestlisted on and kids I'm scared. Not 1 house or trance DJ among the lot. I am not a hip hop hooray kinda chick....is Miami going to be all CRUNK'D during the VMAs??? I'll be there 29th-31st so who knows where the house heads are hanging? ???[/glow]

Don't laugh that was the shit in 96. Robyn Dunne was an instructor there and the Tunnel rats would meet on weds and take her class. Forgot tht place existed damn.

Yup in NY the party will be September 21st and the Miami Chapter for the Grammy's is hosting a party on Sept 22nd at Mansion both will celebrate with some top Electronic talent. More details to come.

Ronin, we'll see we have an event the night before it's the last day of Billboard Dance Music Summit. I can't believe they did show Tiesto or mention him.....bastards. Here's the AP article though. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bjork's big dress, Dutch DJ's beats mark thunderous start to games CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Entertainment Writer (08-13) 15:44 PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- A tiny Icelandic singer wearing an ocean of a dress and a Dutch DJ with music flowing from his fingertips helped bring the 2004 Olympic Games to a wet and wild start. Bjork performed her song "Oceania" during Friday's opening ceremony in keeping with the evening's water theme. "You have done good for yourselves since you left my wet embrace and crawled ashore," the lyrics went -- and so went the waves of fabric intended to look like an extension of the thick twists of ice blue that composed Bjork's gown. The shimmering material unfurled from her feet and spread over the heads of many of the thousands of athletes who'd filed into the Olympic Stadium infield. Bjork herself shimmered as well, with bluish-purple glittery eye shadow across her lids. Her dark hair dangled in tiny twists that framed her pixieish, freckled face. Earlier in the evening, the disc jockey Tiesto from Amsterdam played about two hours of nonstop dance music as the world's athletes took their first steps onto the world's biggest stage. It was the first time a DJ has had such a role at the games. Standing on a platform beneath the unlit Olympic cauldron and dressed in a heather gray T-shirt and baggy, faded jeans, Tiesto bobbed his head to the beat with a set of oversized headphones covering his ears. He spun a mix of instrumental tunes that ranged from hypnotic to pulsating, culminating with throbbing house beats when the Greek team entered at the end of the procession. It was a party atmosphere, with many athletes dancing their way into the stadium and rushing toward the video cameras spread around the track. Among the international dignitaries cheering them on from the VIP section were British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Queen Sofia of Spain, and Prince Frederik of Denmark and his new bride, Australian-born Princess Mary.