Isle residents flood
relief agency
with donations

Radio stations and volunteers
join to help victims of terrorism

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

Though an ocean and a continent away, the people of Hawaii displayed their aloha with an outpouring of generosity for the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

The Hawaii chapter of the Red Cross has collected more than $120,000 since Tuesday.

Yesterday, the YMCA of Honolulu, together with the Red Cross and local radio stations, collected $33,500 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

"We were in awe of the way people turned out and pulled together to do this," said Roz Hamby, executive director of the YMCA Nuuanu branch.

Volunteers, ages 7 to 65, turned out to collect money using fishnets and paper and plastic bags, with signs handmade by children at the YMCA. Anonymous donors dropped in $1,000 and $2,000 donations, Hamby said.

Radio stations KPOI FM 97.5, KQMQ, KORL and 102.7 publicized the event, and many came with checks already written.

"At one point we got bombarded, and we were running up and down the median," Hamby said.

Hamby said the aloha spirit was evident yesterday, with people also offering food and drinks for the volunteers. "In Hawaii there's such a feeling of caring anyway," she said. "In such a disaster, feelings come out even more."

All Oahu YMCAs will continue to accept donations for the Red Cross. Some of the funds will go toward sending volunteers to aid in the relief efforts.

Disaster Director Glenn Lockwood of the Hawaii Chapter of the Red Cross left last night for New York to serve as assistant director of the entire relief effort there.

Lockwood called it an incredible honor.

"And obviously, going along with it is the tremendous responsibility," he said. "There are tens of thousands of people and families that are suffering and hurting."

Included in those numbers are displaced people who had lived in the 22,499 homes in the area around the World Trade Center, he said.

The local Red Cross also has sent Mike Sciuto of Maui to New York as family service officer, and Ken Lee to provide mental health services. The Red Cross is taking names of other mental health workers and medical professionals who have volunteered their services, Lockwood said.

"No matter what happens, whether prepared or not, when the event occurs, people always come forward and help," Lockwood said. "Communities always put down their differences. Borders, boundaries are no longer factors, and people start helping people and do that until they drop."

Besides money and relief workers, Hawaii is responding to the crisis by donating a record amount of blood. Islanders have donated 1,452 pints of blood in the past four days.

"We are now encouraging people to make an appointment to donate over the next two to eight weeks," said Blood Bank of Hawaii President and Medical Director Robyn Yim. The shelf life of platelets and blood components ranges from five to 42 days, she said.

The aloha spirit also was seen in an impromptu memorial for the many New York firefighters missing in the collapse of the World Trade Center. People have been placing flowers and cards in front of the Central Fire Station at 104 S. Beretania St.

HOW TO HELP >> American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Those wishing to contribute can call 800-HELP-NOW (800-435-7669). Contributions can be sent to the American Red Cross Hawaii at 4155 Diamond Head Rd., Honolulu, HI 96815; or on the Web at www.redcross.org. Checks should be made to the Disaster Relief Fund. A collection site is set up at the Customer Service Center at Ala Moana Center. >> September 11th Fund: The Hawaii Community Foundation and others have created a fund for victims and families. Contributions can be made at any Foodland, Sack 'n Save and branch of American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of the Orient, Central Pacific Bank, City Bank, Finance Factors, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii National Bank, HomeStreet Bank and Territorial Savings. Send cash or check to The September 11th Fund, c/o Hawaii Community Foundation, Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1300, Honolulu, HI 96813. Online donations may be made at www.hcf-hawaii.org. Call 537-6333. >> The Hawaii Island Food Bank is asking people to donate cash rather than food. Visit www.secondharvest.org or mail checks, made out to America's Second Harvest, to Hawaii Island Food Bank, 140-B Holomua St., Hilo, HI 96720. >> Federal funds have been established to help Army victims and families directly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. Contributions may be made to Pentagon Victims Fund, Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall St., Room 5N13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600. Phone: 703-428-0000. Make checks payable to the Pentagon Victims Fund. For civilian victims: Federal Employees Education and Assistance-World Trade Center/Pentagon Fund, Suite 200, 8441 W. Bowles Ave.; Littleton, CO 80123-3245. Phone: 800-323-4140 or 202-708-4909. Make checks payable to Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund. >> Fire Department: The public may drop off checks, not cash, at any Oahu fire station from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Checks should be made payable to the New York Fire 9-11 Relief Fund or mailed to Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463 IAFF, AFL-CIO, 2305 S. Beretania St., Room 202, Honolulu 96826. >> The Honolulu Fire Department will assist in the New York Fire 9-11 Relief Fund at I Love Country Cafe restaurants at 451 Piikoi St., Kahala Mall and Mililani Town center. The restaurants will be selling a plate lunch and drink for $10 on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All funds collected will go to families of emergency service workers in New York City. >> Blood donations will continue to be needed for several weeks. Donors are encouraged to make appointments by calling 845-9966 on Oahu or 800-372-9966 on neighbor islands. Oahu's blood collection is being centralized at 2043 Dillingham Blvd. There also is a downtown center at 126 Queen St. Both sites are holding extended hours this week. People on the neighbor islands can donate at blood drives as follows: Hilo >> Wednesday: Hilo State Building, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. >> Thursday: Hilo State Building, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. >> Friday: Hilo Medical Center, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Kona >> Nov. 5: Hilton Waikoloa Village, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. >> Nov. 6: Kahilu Town Hall, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. >> Nov. 7: Royal Kona Resort, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Kauai >> Oct. 17: Wilcox Memorial Hospital, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. >> Oct. 18: Kauai War Memorial, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. >> Oct. 19: Kauai Community College, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Maui All drives will be held at the Cameron Center. >> Oct. 24: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. >> Oct. 25: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. >> Oct. 26: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.