The Lethbridge Red Cross society is seeing some donations, but no big fundraisers have been created for Chile which is still reeling from the massive earthquake that hit the country on Feb. 28.
“No groups have approached us here in Lethbridge to come together to do any kind of fundraising,” says Shirley Diaz, director for Red Cross in Southern Alberta.
“Funds will be used to provide 15,000 families with relief goods, tents, tarps, they need a field hospital, generators, water, sanitations teams and logistics support over the next six months.”
Diaz says the international Red Cross has launched an appeal for $7 million after the earthquake to support the Chilean Red Cross.
“There is a lot of damage, so immediately the funds are being used for search and rescue, electrical repair, water, that kind of thing.”
Reports say there could be as many as 1.5 million people affected.
“It’s very serious. There has been a lot of destruction.”
Diaz says people have come in and made donations and encourages people to donate through www.redcross.ca or by phoning 1-800-418-1111.