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By WTC Help
New York Stake Member Details Help Needed
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- A member of the New York, New York Stake sent
the following e-mail message detailing some of the local needs in the
wake of the attack on the World Trade Center and suggesting that it
be forwarded to "those who have expressed a desire to serve." As some
of the needs are applicable to communities outside New York City, and
since Mormon News has learned of several efforts around the US to
provide assistance, we are forwarding the message for the benefit of
those interested in helping.
To offer assistance, please simply reply to this message, and Mormon
News will forward offers to the appropriate New York parties.
NEEDS:
* 5-7 adults who are willing to assist me (help! please) in
coordinating volunteer and donation efforts. This would include
following up with offers from outside the area and coordinating
efforts to place those offers here (see "offers" below), heading up
various " need committees", and searching (online or by phone) for
needs in the community. As we get more involved in the details, these
coordinators will probably be able to utilize youth as a resource,
but we will share those needs in the future.
* Placement for four cats of a woman who is a victim of the collapse
of the WTC.
* Meals for hospital workers at the Cornell Medical Center. Meals
will be taken 2 to 3 times per week.
* Members of the Manhattan 5th ward who lost their housing due to
this disaster have temporary housing. However, Bishop Holman has
shared that longer-term housing will be needed for 4-6 months
beginning as early as October. If you have information re: housing
availability for 3 families (one couple, another couple with 3 kids,
and another with two), please let me know.
* Drivers are needed to assist in delivering food to the elderly.
* Per the police department, respirators are desperately needed
downtown. The New York City area has largely depleted its supply and
we will need more to last for up to 6 months. This may be one of the
projects one of the wards out west could assist with. Please respond
to me for further detail.
* There are several other needs which will be forthcoming...we need
to obtain more information first. In addition, agencies such as the
Salvation Army and the Red Cross have indicated that there will be a
greater need for assistance in a few weeks.
OFFERS:
* Letters can be sent to the Uniformed Firefighters Association, 203
W 23rd St, NY, NY 10010. Please designate on the letter if this is to
go to fire fighters in the community or to firefighters' families
which have lost a family member.
* A sister in Oregon and her community have prepared frames to be
delivered to individuals who lost family members in the disaster. It
is her hope that this will assist them in remembering their loved
ones. We need help in getting these into the appropriate hands
(counselors for distribution, or directly to the families).
* Youth from the Columbine First Ward are interested in writing
letters to youth in the New York area. Having experienced a community
tragedy, they would like to begin pen-pal relationships which could
assist with healing as well as forge new friendships. This is
something that a California ward did for them during their time of
need and was very helpful. Are there any wards in special need or who
feel you could benefit from this?
* A sister in the 1st ward is organizing bereavement counseling
efforts at a professional level. For now, please let me know of how
this might fill any needs you may have; I will confirm that I can
share her number for you to be able to contact her directly in the
future.
* The stake presidency has offered to make the church building
available as a meeting space for any religion or group wanting to
meet. The church is also available for any funeral or memorial
services.
As you know, there is no "stake" response to this tragedy; members
have been asked to utilize federal and community agencies, such as
the Red Cross. To be clear, members of our stake ARE out in the
community and are making a significant contribution. Members across
the world are offering assistance and are being resourceful in how
they might contribute. Specifically regarding our area, there are
things members can do and are doing on their own: volunteering with
the Red Cross, assisting those in need of comfort, and even searching
at ground zero (I've attached a list below to serve as a sampling of
what some members have already done and continue to do).
Small Sampling of Stake Member's Contributions:
The outpouring of charity and compassion as a response to this awful
tragedy have served as a source of great comfort to those in need.
May we continue to serve one another in such a Christ-like way...
Source:
WTC Needs Assessment
Tamara White 19Sep01 D1
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