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Tsunami Recovery FAQ
Can I go as a volunteer?
Thank you for this very selfless offer. At
this point, Church World Service has no plans to send individual volunteers
or volunteer teams to the tsunami affected areas. The areas
in which we are working have been hit so badly that our staff and partners
there are not in a position to receive volunteers who, while skilled
in various ways, typically require a range of logistical support, including
language translation and cultural accompaniment.
Thank you for wanting to put your caring into action. For more information about how you may be able to help in your own community, please call your Church World Service regional office at 888-297-2767.
www.cidi.org and www.Americares.org may be able to point you to volunteer opportunities.
Do you accept donations of supplies and materials (in-kind donations)?
Thank
you for offering. We are accepting CWS “Gift of the Heart” Kits,
which are very useful during disaster recovery general, and which we
are using in this response effort—particularly Health
Kits and School
Kits. Church World Service is not able to accept miscellaneous in-kind
contributions from individuals or groups. The cost and logistics involved
in packing, shipping, receiving, managing, and distributing unsolicited
goods are prohibitive. We have found through experience that
purchasing supplies close to the point-of-need is a more cost-effective
option. In addition, on a case-by-case basis, we accept large quantities
of pre-packaged materials or supplies. If you represent a business or
organization that has a large quantity of a particular supply that you
feel may be useful to us, please email particulars and your contact info
to: .
Please include in the subject line: Contribution of supplies. Thank you.
Through www.cidi.org , you may be able to find an organization that is taking miscellaneous in-kind donations.
How much of my congregation’s donation will go toward the
tsunami recovery effort?
100% of your congregation’s contribution
designated for Tsunami Recovery goes to the relief and recovery effort,
and that is also true of individual unsolicited designated contributions.
Are my contributions for tsunami relief and recovery efforts
tax deductible in 2004?
Based on Congressional action, individuals’ monetary contributions
to assist tsunami relief and recovery efforts will qualify as deductible
charitable contributions for calendar year 2004 if postmarked (or made
online or by phone) on or before January 31, 2005. Contributions to
Church World Service Tsunami Recovery qualify for this special treatment.
Can I adopt a child orphaned in this tragedy?
Church World Service
does not work in the area of international adoption. The U.S. State Department
website has information on international adoption that you may find helpful. http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html
Church World Service
Media Contacts:
Ann Walle/CWS/New York, (212) 870-2654, e-mail:
Jan Dragin/New York/Boston – 24/7, (781) 925-1526, e-mail: