Monetary donations more useful than goods
Beyond prayers and the memorial service planned for Saturday, Santa Monicans can help in the tsunami relief effort by donating monetarily through a variety of different resources set up on the Westside.
The Santa Monica chapter of the Red Cross has raised more than $175,000, which goes directly to countries hardest hit in Southeast Asia.
John Pacheco, executive director of the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, said the organization typically keeps a portion of donations for administrative costs in fundraising.
However, Pacheco said he decided that 100 percent of tsunami donations should go directly to Southeast Asia.
A hotline, (866) 733-5010, was established over the New Year’s weekend to assist residents who want to donate to the disaster victims. Since then, the local chapter has raised between $5,000 to $10,000 a day, Pacheco said. Staff members will be answering the hotline from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
“I expect that we’ll raise $250,000,” he said. “I’ve gone through a lot of disasters, and this one has a lot more legs than any I’ve seen.”
He compared the recent outpouring of support to the local donations of $42,000 that came in during the California wildfires in 2003.
“I think the difference is that this community has more of an international community and people here have a lot of feeling about that place,” Pacheco said.
Red Cross officials will be at the pier from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to answer questions about how the donations already collected are being used and where the organization anticipates future need. Community members who wish to make a contribution may do so at the Red Cross of Santa Monica kiosk stationed on the pier. Staff and volunteers will be answering questions and collecting donations before and after a memorial service on the pier Saturday (see related story). Only financial donations will be accepted because of the overwhelming costs of shipping items from the United States to affected areas, officials said.
The Santa Monica chapter also will be open for those who wish to make donations in person. Donations can also be made in person at the Red Cross office located at 1450 11th St., or online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.
Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross Southeast Asia Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Effort. In support of the effort, the American Red Cross already has deployed personnel to hard-hit Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Red Cross officials say the best way to get help to Southern Asia is with cash contributions to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. With funding, most relief supplies can be purchased in the affected areas, officials said. Contributions not only help the economies of the affected countries, but also save shipping costs and ensure that the supplies are culturally appropriate.
Barney’s Beanery locations in Santa Monica and West Hollywood also are raising money for the Red Cross. Barney’s Beanery will forward 25 percent of each restaurant’s dinner and bar receipts to the American Red Cross.
“We felt it was important to do our share as all of our wait staff has been painfully aware of the devastation wrought on a significant percentage of our world’s population,” said co-owner David Houston.
Dozens of bars, restaurants and small business owners throughout the area are gearing up for a week-long fundraiser for the tsunami relief effort by hosting several fundraising events. Proceeds will go to UNICEF, CARE and Oxfam — all organizations donating directly to Southeast Asia.
Beginning Jan. 12 and ending on Jan. 19, local establishments will hold events. Nearly 40 bars are participating in “Campaign for Humanitarian Emergency Response,” also known as CHEERS.
To learn more about what events are being held and where, log on to www.cheersweek.com. To participate, send an e-mail to
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.