My Mom suggested letting people know how the recent events surrounding the earthquake might affect our adoption journey. She's received some phone calls and emails from family friends inquiring. So, along with emails I thought I'd address this on our blog.
At this time we really don't know how this will affect our journey. I can't help but think it will slow things down some. It's important to remember that only a small fraction of orphanages in China participate in International Adoption. However, the ones that do participate and were affected by the earthquake will be in "survivor mode" until life gets back to normal - at least as normal as it can be following such a devestating nartural disaster (much like the blizzard from a few months ago).
The CCAA is located in Beijing, which was not affected by the earthquake, so they should be able to keep pluggin' away at their work. What will change is a possible slowdown of receiving paperwork for the babies who live in orphanages affected by the earthquake.
In the meantime many people have been flooding China with support - both finanacially and by sending supplies. Although it would be great to be able to send supplies needed, care packages must go through customs, which is very expensive and would take away from money needed for disaster relief funds. This makes financial gifts the best way for us to help China right now. Below are some options if you are interested. The first option regarding Delphi comes from an email we received from the man who teaches the Chinese class we attended. He works at Delphi and wanted to pass along to people from the class the following information and gave me permission to post it on our blog ...
Delphi Responds To Chinese Earthquake Disaster
Reports from Delphi’s Asia/Pacific region indicate that although the major earthquake in the Sichuan Province in China did not structurally affect any Delphi sites, many of our employees’ families, our customers and our suppliers in that region have been severely impacted.
In response, the Delphi Foundation has donated 350,000 RMB ($50,000 US) to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross. Individual Delphi employee fund-raising opportunities have taken hold at many Delphi locations around the world. If you are interested in donating money to the disaster relief efforts, check with your local Human Resource Department to see if your location has a donation collection procedure in place.
If not, employees can donate directly in any of the following ways:
• Dialing the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP NOW ( U.S. calls only) and phoning in your donation;
• Writing a personal check (payable to: American Red Cross International Response Fund, and earmark it for “China Sichuan Province Disaster Relief.”) and mailing it to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013; or
• Contributing on-line at http://american.redcross.org/. Or …
• Consulting the Internet and various news services in your local area that have identified other global organizations besides the Red Cross that are collecting disaster relief contributions for the China earthquake victims.
At this time we really don't know how this will affect our journey. I can't help but think it will slow things down some. It's important to remember that only a small fraction of orphanages in China participate in International Adoption. However, the ones that do participate and were affected by the earthquake will be in "survivor mode" until life gets back to normal - at least as normal as it can be following such a devestating nartural disaster (much like the blizzard from a few months ago).
The CCAA is located in Beijing, which was not affected by the earthquake, so they should be able to keep pluggin' away at their work. What will change is a possible slowdown of receiving paperwork for the babies who live in orphanages affected by the earthquake.
In the meantime many people have been flooding China with support - both finanacially and by sending supplies. Although it would be great to be able to send supplies needed, care packages must go through customs, which is very expensive and would take away from money needed for disaster relief funds. This makes financial gifts the best way for us to help China right now. Below are some options if you are interested. The first option regarding Delphi comes from an email we received from the man who teaches the Chinese class we attended. He works at Delphi and wanted to pass along to people from the class the following information and gave me permission to post it on our blog ...
Delphi Responds To Chinese Earthquake Disaster
Reports from Delphi’s Asia/Pacific region indicate that although the major earthquake in the Sichuan Province in China did not structurally affect any Delphi sites, many of our employees’ families, our customers and our suppliers in that region have been severely impacted.
In response, the Delphi Foundation has donated 350,000 RMB ($50,000 US) to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross. Individual Delphi employee fund-raising opportunities have taken hold at many Delphi locations around the world. If you are interested in donating money to the disaster relief efforts, check with your local Human Resource Department to see if your location has a donation collection procedure in place.
If not, employees can donate directly in any of the following ways:
• Dialing the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP NOW ( U.S. calls only) and phoning in your donation;
• Writing a personal check (payable to: American Red Cross International Response Fund, and earmark it for “China Sichuan Province Disaster Relief.”) and mailing it to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013; or
• Contributing on-line at http://american.redcross.org/. Or …
• Consulting the Internet and various news services in your local area that have identified other global organizations besides the Red Cross that are collecting disaster relief contributions for the China earthquake victims.
The following information comes from the Rumor Queen website...
Half the Sky is giving daily updates at their main page, and you can donate to HTS at this link: www.globalgiving.com/pr/2100/proj2086a.html. Half the Sky has people on the ground there and have even been able to give assistance to the Red Cross.
LWB and OCDF also have earthquake funds set up, and appear to have people on the ground who can help. During the snow storms HTS seemed to be the only one in a position with people on the ground close enough to help, but this time we have several organizations with that ability.
(Jen's note: I read somewhere that Ford is matching funds donated through the Global Giving fund. I can't find where I found it right off-hand, but I'm thinking it was on the RQ site.) **** Check out the comment for this post for clarification about Ford matching funds given by their employees to Global Giving ****
And lastly...
Our agency (CHI) is collecting funds as well. They are a US 501(c)3 Public Charity which makes your donation fully tax deductible like others previously mentioned. You can donate directly from their website by clicking here. Or you can send a check to the following:
Help Young Victims of China Earthquake
Children's Hope International
11780 Borman Drive
St. Louis, MO 63011
Children's Hope International
11780 Borman Drive
St. Louis, MO 63011
We recieved an email from our agency yesterday that stated CHI has collected $14,000 from US donors alone. The email also shared that Melody mentioned how touched the people on the streets are to know that her teams' medicine, tents and formula are coming from US citizens.
Another email from our agency suggested that if you would rather send supplies to contact the Red Cross.
Another email from our agency suggested that if you would rather send supplies to contact the Red Cross.
2 comments:
Thanks for letting people know how they can help. I did want to clarify that donations made through GlobalGiving to Half the Sky will be matched for Ford employees only (and they have been giving, very generously).
-Joan @ GlobalGiving
This is what the media should be talking about today instead of Kennedy's seizure. They make me so annoyed!
I don't have much money, but please get intouch with me to let me know how I can be of help.
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