Day 17 - Tzu Chi USA News Update
Reported on 9/27/01 3:30
p.m. PST
9/26 11:00 a.m. PST
U.S. Main Office
A few days ago while searching for information on the Internet,
a Main Office volunteer came across a photograph of someone
injured from the attacks on Sept. 11th. Under the photo, the
caption gave the name of this person. We quickly figured out
that this person was at New York's Cornell Medical Center
and sent word to our New York Chapter volunteers to see if
they can care for her. Today, we have word that through a
doctor who knows Tzu Chi, New York volunteers have started
to care for her. Her body has been burned 40%. Although financially
she is provided for, our volunteers will give her the emotional
and spiritual support she needs right now.
9/26 8:00 p.m.
PST
Southern California Chapter
Tzu Chi volunteers from the Southern California Chapter went
to visit the home of a grandmother who was on the September
11th United Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles. Late
afternoon today, Tzu Chi volunteers at the Main Office received
word that the local Spanish television station Channel 34
would like us to help this family. Volunteers at the Main
Office immediately verified that this grandmother was in fact
on the United flight which hit one of the World Trade Center
towers two weeks ago. A team of Tzu Chi volunteers from Southern
California went to visit the daughter of this grandmother.
Our volunteers found out that this grandmother was only 53
years old. She was a resident of El Salvador. She has a husband
and four other children back in El Salvador. The daughter
whom we visited has only been in the States for one year,
does not speak English, and does not know many people. The
daughter herself has three children, ages 3, 6, and 9, back
in El Salvador. This grandmother is provides the majority
of the family's income. She was traveling for work when this
tragic event took place. Through one of our Tzu Chi volunteers
who spoke Spanish, we have the family's address in El Salvador.
Both our Southern California volunteers and our Tzu Chi volunteers
in El Salvador will continue to care for this family.
Channel 34 broadcasted the story of the
grandmother and Tzu Chi's visit later in the evening. Immediately
after this broadcast, a call was received from an individual
whose cousin was in the World Trade Center. He wanted help
because his cousin was an undocumented worker. Southern California
volunteers are following up with case.
9/27 2:00 p.m. PST
New York/New Jersey Chapter
Today as of 2:00 p.m. PST today, the
Tzu Chi volunteers at the NYC Family Assistance Center located
at Pier 94 in Manhattan gave assistance to 17 families. The
Tzu Chi volunteers at the Office of Recovery and Victim Center
in New Jersey helped 12 families today.
The total number of special care cases
handled through the NYC Family Assistance Center in New York
City and the Office of Recovery and Victim Center in New Jersey
has reached a total of 304, 268 cases are from New York, and
36 are from New Jersey.
Source: Tzu Chi USA Main
Office
