How donations are helping relief efforts:   Latest update from the American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom: * This is already the largest single-country personnel deployment in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – an emergency that spanned 14 countries. * It is clear that what took minutes to destroy will take many years and the collective support from governments and relief agencies across the world to help mend. The American Red Cross is working in close coordination with other responding organizations and will undoubtedly collaborate on joint, long-term recovery project

In response to the recent 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti, the United States has reacted quickly to raise funds and send assistance. There are organizations across the country providing assistance and Sacramentans are also responding quickly to the devastated country's call for help. On Friday, Jan. 15 Sutter Health Systems announced that it will be donating $1.25 million to Haiti relief. The majority ($1 million) of the donation will go towards Doctors Without Borders and the rest will be used to fund medical supplies and fill cargo boxes with supplies. Another large company, has made it easy for customers to donate by setting up collection boxes at check stands throughout the company

About 60 community members gathered at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services last night to make the holidays a little bit brighter for Oak Park's children.   The Oak Park Neighborhood Association has collected 300 toys for its Oak Park Toy Give-Away, which began Nov. 22 and will continue until Dec. 18. "Imagine knowing that you may not receive a gift...Kids everywhere look forward to the thrill of opening gifts and we want to make sure that kids in Oak Park get to experience the excitement," said board member Michael Boyd, "Even more importantly, we want them to know they live in a community that cares about them; a community that values them, and a community that will help them."

Please join The Sacramento Press on Saturday for a day of fun and helping the community.  Bring new or used sports equipment and gain free admission to The Carnival at St. Rose plus a chance to win tickets to the December 6 Kings game.      WHAT:  The Sacramento Press sponsors a drive to collect new or used sports equipment   WHO:  Proceeds benefit Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (www.sfbs.org)   WHERE:  The Carnival at St. Rose, 7th and K Sts., Sacramento   WHEN:  10 a.m. – noon on Saturday, December 5   WHY:  Underprivileged children gain equipment to play athletics   HOW:  Donation of new or used sports equipment gains free admission to the carnival   MORE:  Dona

 Below is the second series of photographs taken by David Roberts during his bike rides around Sacramento    

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Thanks to both of you for sharing your personal experiences with this unfortunate accident.

I'm untied from the meeting and title fixed!

Below are two video updates from American Red Cross Emergency Response Unit team members on the ground in Haiti. Watch to get a sense of how distribution at camp sites is assessed and carried out. CLICK HERE: http://redcrosschat.org/2010/02/01/update-from-the-ground-haiti-earthquake/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RedCrossChat+%28Red+Cross+Chat%29 The Red Cross is focusing on three areas – food, clean drinking water and other relief items such as hygiene kits, blankets, tarps, sleeping mats, tents and water containers. The relief items are helping more than 10,000 families (50,000 people) to date – with plans to increase this number. About 79 percent of the funds spent or committed by the American Red Cross have been for food and water; 18 percent have been for shelter; and the rest have been for health and family services.

One more happening this Friday at Old Ironsides: Jerry Perry Presents "Havin' A Party": A Tribute to Sam Cooke with Ricky Berger and DJ Larry Rodriguez $8 minumum donation required, going to the American Red Cross!