Day 10 - Tzu Chi USA News Update
Reported on 9/20/01 6:00
p.m. EST
9/19
New York / New Jersey
Tzu Chi volunteers spent the day at the New York Family
Assistance Center. At the end of the day, Tzu Chi assisted
55 families and individuals. Among these, 6 are families of
people missing or deceased, 4 are injured victims, and 45
are individuals or families who live close the World Trade
Center. Each family received Tzu Chi's emergency monetary
assistance and many are being considered for Tzu Chi's special
care cases.
At
the end of the day, New York Chapter, New Jersey Chapter,
and Long Island Office Tzu Chi volunteers all met with Tzu
Chi U.S. CEO to discuss current assistance activities in New
York and brainstorm on ways to offer long term support to
affected families in the future. The consensus of the Tzu
Chi volunteers is that the most important thing is to care
for each individual or family affected by this tragedy. Emergency
monetary assistance will continue to be offered to those who
need this type of assistance. Each individual or family who
have received Tzu Chi's emergency fund will be considered
to be part of Tzu Chi's special care case network. The long
term, personal attention given to individuals or families
who have suffered loss is a Tzu Chi specialty. Once any individual
or family becomes a special care case, Tzu Chi volunteers
will provide long term support both emotionally as well as
financially.
9/19
Southern California
In an effort to assist even more victims
of this past 
week's
attacks, Tzu Chi's Southern California Chapter is helping
to contact New York's Red Cross. The Southern California Chapter
has enlisted the help of the local Red Cross Chapter. Because
of the close working relationship between Tzu Chi's Southern
California Chapter and the Red Cross San Gabriel Valley Service
Center, manager Don Weller is helping Tzu Chi by recommending
us to the Virginia Red Cross Chapter. Through the Virginia
Red Cross Chapter, Tzu Chi is hoping to set up additional
stations at the New York Family Assistance Center to assist
more victims directly.
7:30 p.m. PST
In a constructive step to react to this recent tragedy, Southern
California Tzu Chi people are mobilizing to form the first
Tzu Chi Emergency Disaster Response Center in the U.S. Tzu
Chi people met to go over the plans of the Tzu Chi Southern
California Emergency Disaster Response Center. Key Tzu Chi
principles, emergency procedures, and emergency supplies needed
were presented.
9/19
U.S. Main Office
On Tuesday, Sept. 25th, Tzu Chi USA's Main Office and
the Southern California Chapter in partnership with the Monrovia
Police Station are hosting a press conference. Information
about use of the Disaster Relief Fund to assist victims and
families of victims will be provided. This press conference
is designed to introduce Tzu Chi to member of the press and
to give information about the Tzu Chi 9-11 Family Assistance
Program, including application process, types of financial
assistance, and other types of assistance that are available
to those who have suffered from this tragedy.
Source: Tzu Chi USA Main
Office
