You Can Continue to Help Those in Need in Southeast Asia (1/2)

A call to collective action by Asian Restaurant News The world is saddened by the devastation and continued loss of life experienced as a result of the December 26th 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Southeast Asian corridor. To be sure, as the days go by, our attention may be called to other news and events, but we cannot forget those communities that will need much help from the outside world to recover. You can be proactively engaged in the cause to help stem the tide of disease and famine-and begin to rebuild the communities that have been devastated and assist the people who are beginning to reclaim their lives and self esteem. Asian Restaurant News has assembles some ways for you to engage your staff as well as your customers and neighbors and at the same time, positively affect your relationship within your own community. In turn, we would like to recognize you for your extraordinary efforts to help: You will receive an acknowledgement from organizations listed in this article. If you will forward a copy of this acknowledgment(or some type of receipt to our office),Asian Restaurant News will proudly display your name and information in an upcoming issue, as part of out special thanks. In addition, a certificate of appreciation of your efforts from Asian Restaurant News will be forwarded to you. If you will send us stories, photos, ect. regarding your restaurant’s Tsunami Relief activities and results, we will make every effort to publish them in an upcoming issue. Here are some thing you can do immediately: 1. Please do not collect food items, clothes, etc. as these agencies are not in position to ship these directly to relief areas. Financial contributions only will be accepted. 2. Place a sign on your store window that says, for example: (Name of Your Restaurant) Tsunami Relief Effort Today Proceeds of all purchases will be donated to those in need Thank you for your Generosity If you want to extend this program, change the word, “Today” and insert the period of your choice(this week, this month, etc.) Inside, on the menus (or placed prominently for customers to see)you can announce the percentage of the check that you will donate, or the gratuities that will be collected from the total tips that days, or matching funds from management, etc. At the end of the period, write a check to any of the following worthy and credible organizations (each organization will also accept donations online, if you will visit their websites): *International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) http://www.icrc.org/eng 1. Download the Donation Form 2. Mail a check made payable to: International Committee of the Red Cross 3. On the memo line write: For the Benefit of the SE Asia Tsunami Relief Effort 4. Send all proceeds to: International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) 19,Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland *UNICEF(a Division of the United Nations) http://www.unicefusa.org 1. Download the Tsunami Relief Form 2. Mail a check made payable to U.S. Fund for UNICEF 3. On the memo line write: Benefit of the SE Asia Tsunami Relief Effort 4. Send all proceeds to: UNICEF USA 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016 *CARE http://www.care.org 1. Mail a check made payable to CARE 2. On the memo line write: Asia Quake Relief 3. Send all proceeds to: CARE 151 Ellis St. NE Atlanta, GA 30303-2440 3. Collection Jar Idea: Place a collection jar at the cash register for the Southeast Asia Tsunami Relief Effort. At the end of the period, follow the donation instructions explained in this editorial. 4. Speak to your local newspapers and other news outlets about your special donations days, and they will be happy to help you in any way they can. Also, invite them to lunch to that they can interview you and your customers. 5. Send your local news outlets a press release and/or public service announcement addressing your restaurant’s efforts to help the Southeast Asia Tsunami Relief Effort.