Mainers donating to relief efforts

PORTLAND – Mainers are stepping up to do their part to help the survivors of the disastrous tsunamis that killed tens of thousands of people in 12 nations.

The American Red Cross chapter in Portland has received thousands of dollars in donations, and The Salvation Army and other groups are raising money as well.

The U.S. government has pledged at least $35 million. Catholic Relief Services committed $500,000 to pay for shelter and health care in India and Sri Lanka. Salvation Army volunteers have been feeding more than 1,200 people in India.

“The best thing to do is to give personal contributions,” said Suzanne McCormick, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Southern Maine. “So far we’ve had $12,000 worth of contributions.”

The International Red Cross warned that the death toll could eventually surpass 100,000.

Several people have called the Red Cross to volunteer to assist with relief efforts in India and Thailand, McCormick said. She said money donations are more helpful because she does not expect the countries will need any Maine volunteers.

Several doctors at Maine Medical Center are on standby with the Global Health Ministry to visit any countries that need them.

“There might be a possibility of a need for epidemiologists,” McCormick said. “A doctor in the area of epidemiology would have particular skills with water contamination and illnesses. We have to wait for affected countries to determine what kind of help they need.”

In Damariscotta, volunteers with the Salvation Army were asking for help buying chlorine tablets. Money raised by the Salvation Army will buy water-purifying tablets to ship to Salvation Army relief efforts overseas.

Health officials say the tablets will be critical in helping prevent the spread of waterborne disease.

In Blue Hill, the Rev. Ted Hoskins would like to go to Asia and help. Hoskins is one of several volunteers to have visited Belize for the past four years to help rebuild schools and homes. Hurricane Iris hit the Central American country in 2001.

“If we went to Sri Lanka, we might be in the way,” he said. “If it’s more important to have us, we’ll go.”