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Area Collection For Hurricane Mitch Victims

Newtown resident Gail Friedman is coordinating a Danbury area collection of

relief aid for victims of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras.

Ms Friedman is collecting items most desperately needed including baby

formula, disposable diapers, powdered milk, children's clothing and shoes,

cooking and eating utensils, and over-the-counter items such as Band Aids and

aspirin.

"We wanted to do something to help," said Ms Friedman, who operates a

marketing company in Danbury. "I called churches, then I called AmeriCares,

which referred me to an Hispanic organization in Hartford, which referred me

to Norwalk and finally to a man in Seymour. I can't tell you how many places I

called. There were collection points in Hartford and Norwalk but nothing in

the greater Danbury area."

Donations may be brought to Ms Friedman's office in the Fleet Bank building at

26 Mill Plain Road, Exit 4 of I-84. Call 791-1644 for hours that the office is

open.

"Generally there is someone here from 8 or 8:30 am until 10 pm during the

week," she said. "Newtown residents also can call me at home on weekends,

270-9814, if they want to bring donations to my home."

Ms Friedman said the first shipment of aid from the Danbury area was sent by

plane out of New York last weekend.

"The group is flying directly into Honduras to supply hospitals and relief

organizations there," she said. "It's a really nice feeling to know that we

can do something."

Donations also are being accepted, during limited hours, at B'nai Israel

Synagogue on Clapboard Ridge Road.

An estimated 7,000 people were killed in Honduras by the hurricane, according

to the American Red Cross; 20,000 others are missing. There are 230,000

persons living in 190 shelters in Honduras where an estimated 2 million people

have been affected by the storm.

The Western Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting

monetary donations to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Mitch and other

disasters. Monetary contributions may be sent to The American Red Cross

Disaster Relief Fund or to the American Red Cross International Disaster Fund,

PO Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013, or contact the Danbury Red Cross chapter

at 792-8200.