By: Michelle Miller, Journal Staff Writer
11:56 PM PST
The Auburn community has felt compelled to reach out and help the
victims of the tsunami disaster in any way it can, from staging garage
sales to placing change buckets in school classrooms.
"We're looking at this tragedy day after day after day and it seems to
get bigger and bigger," said Linda Robinson, owner of the Sun River
Clothing Company in Old Town.
Like many others, Robinson felt she had to do something, so she made
the suggestion in the Old Town Business Association agenda for
merchants to give donations to the Salvation Army.
"You may want to do something alone but it wouldn't have as big of an
impact," she said. "But bringing in other people and associations can
make a bigger difference."
She's already received one $100 contribution from Ross Carpenter of
Serendipity and challenges other businesses to make contributions to
the Salvation Army in the Old Town Business Association's name.
Sonia Sungail, chairwoman of the Auburn Garden Club's bird study group,
wanted to divert some of her club's charity funds to the relief
efforts.
"We don't have a lot of money, it might amount to 25 bucks," she said.
"But think of them. They didn't have much to start with and now they
don't have the real necessities of life - water, food and
shelter."
Students at Auburn Elementary School have placed change buckets in
their classrooms to help raise money for UNICEF.
Ms. Bauman's fifth-grade class started the "Change for the World"
program for all kids affected by the tsunami.
"We're doing it so that kids without parents and houses can feel good
and have comfort," said student Brendan Fontes, 10.
Students aren't supposed to go home and get money from their parents,
he said, but should do chores or ask neighbors for donations.
Realtor Jacqueline Dodd at RE/MAX of Auburn feared that the tsunami
hitting just one day after Christmas was bad timing for people who've
already given so much during the holidays.
"After Christmas, everyone feels so tapped out," she said. "And they
might feel that (donating money) is something they can't do if they
feel financially strapped."
Because Christmas brings new gifts, people are often looking to donate
their old stuff. Dodd thought a garage sale would be an excellent way
to turn items into funds for disaster relief.In the Know: Local ways to
help tsunami victims
A Tsunami Relief Garage Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 22 at Mt. Vernon Grange Hall, 3185 Bell Road in Auburn.
Volunteers are needed for the day of the sale and to contact area
businesses for item donations. You can also donate items that are easy
to transport from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lyon Real Estate, 851 Pleasant
Grove Blvd. Suite #150 in Roseville until Jan. 20. Items can also be
dropped at Mt. Vernon Grange Hall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan
21.
The Sugar Plump Fairies will take donations 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at
the Albertsons on Elm Avenue.
Through Saturday, Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn is holding a wine sale
with a twist: 100 percent of revenue will go to benefit tsunami victims
via the American Red Cross. The store is open noon to 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday.
Entravision Radios Sacramento stations, including KOOL 101.9, will
broadcast live from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday from Cal Expo in
Sacramento to raise funds for the American Red Cross South Asia Tsunami
Disaster Relief Fund.
The World Concern organization is looking to provide tsunami victims
with ultraviolet water purifiers capable of treating 2,000 gallons of
water per day. Contact World Concern at (800) 755-5022 or
www.worldconcern.org to make a donation.
The garage sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Mt.
Vernon Grange Hall. Proceeds will go to Oxfam, a charity helping poor
communities around the world.
Norma Harris of Auburn has carefully chosen her own way to help, by
donating to World Concern for water purifiers.
"I wanted to give money to something that would help everybody," she
said. "You need water to live. Food you can do without for a length of
time, but not water. I felt that water purifying might not get a lot of
publicity, but I feel very strongly that water is one of the main
things that is needed in the hospitals and tent cities."
The United Auburn Indian Community, owners of Thunder Valley Casino
near Lincoln, have teamed with the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians,
owners of Cache Creek Casino Resort, donating $1 million to the
immediate and long-term relief efforts in South Asia. The contribution
will be split between Save the Children and Habitat for Humanity
International.
"Helping others in need is deeply rooted in Native American culture,"
said Jessica Tavares, tribal chairperson of the United Auburn Indian
Community, said in a statement. "During this period of immeasurable
human suffering we felt compelled to give aid to those most desperately
in need - the thousands of children and their families that have
survived one of history's worst natural disasters."
Many people willing to help have stuck to charitable groups they've
used in the past, many with specific funds set up for aid in South
Asia.
The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance warns that whenever
disaster strikes, some will take advantage of other's willingness to
give.
The organization cautions donors to not give cash and keep records of
their donations. Donors should also not be fooled by
impressive-sounding names and check out any questionable charities
through the local charity registration office. The group's Web site,
www.give.org, keeps reports on national charities.
