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Getting
and Giving
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Dear Helper and Saver:
Thank you so much for all you are doing.
I, as well as everyone else, are
so proud of people like you that are doing all you can in
the rescue. I can’t thank you enough and I hope this little
note helps you get through one day a little better.
Thank you so much and try to be careful.
We care about you.
Ann Marie
East Islip H.S.
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| This message was
taped to a wall, with others like it, inside a 24-hour bank
that was transformed into a supply depot with stores of food,
clothing and toiletries. |
• Helping
our children cope • Hands across the region
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• The American Red Cross responds • Lend
a helping hand •
• Receive a helping hand •
Helping
our children cope
The following websites can assist parents and teachers
who are helping children understand and cope with recent events
and feelings of fear, grief or loss:
- Purdue
University. Click on “Terrorism and Children:” quality sound
bytes, handouts and other links.
- PrepareRespondRecover.com.
Information on: recognizing stress in children; strategies for
parents and teachers to assist children in managing stress; benefits
of play and age-specific interventions; and outreach for children/
resources and materials.
- Seasame
Workshop.“Tragic Times, Healing Words:” developed as a response
to the Columbine tragedy, still a useful tool for parents and
teachers including a chart on “what to say” to children of different
ages.
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Thoughts from Fred Rogers: good as a simple handout for parents,
teachers and caregivers.
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Howdy,
neighbor:
wise advice from Mr. Rogers:
Somewhere deep inside each of us is a longing
to know that all will be well. Our children need to hear from
us adults that we will do everything we can to keep them safe
and to help them grow in this world.
In a time of worldwide stress, it’s easy
to give in to feeling helpless. We can take care of our children
by sticking to our normal routines. Knowing what to expect
comforts children and can go a long way toward providing a
sense of security.
Respect our children enough to listen to
what they’re telling us. Be assured that questions are just
as important as answers. If children ask questions, your best
answer might be to ask them, “What do you think happened?”
If the answer is “I don’t know,” then the simplest reply might
be, “I’m sad about the news and I’m worried. But I love you,
and I am here for you.”
One of the most important messages we can
give our children is, “It’s okay to be angry, but it’s not
okay to hurt.” Besides allowing the children the right to
their anger, we can also help them find constructive things
to do with their angry feelings (write a letter, draw a picture,
express their anger in words to an adult or stuffed toy, yell
or cry in the shower).
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For more information on how to help children cope,
contact Denyse A. Variano at 845/344-1234.
Hands
across the region
SULLIVAN COUNTY – On Friday, September 14, many
area residents participated in a national candlelight vigil. At
7:00 p.m., residents gathered out-of-doors in families and groups
to pray in silence and sing together.
Earlier that afternoon, students at Shohola Elementary
School gathered on the school field wearing red, white and blue.
They formed a circular human chain representing unity for our country.
From there, students and staff observed a moment of silence, pledged
the flag and sang patriotic songs.
Later in the day, students in each class made a
paper link chain of red, white and blue construction paper. Class
chains were connected and hung in the hallway as an observance of
the United States and the difficult period we now face together.
At Sullivan County Community College (SCCC),
approximately 250 students, faculty, staff and area residents attended
a panel discussion at the Seelig Theatre
on the recent terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington,
D.C. Spearheaded by SCCC Professor Josephine Finn, the panel included professors
Frank Conneely, Jack Leshner,
Anne Ruszkiewicz, Marie Henry and Sandy
Johnson, all from the college’s Division of Liberal Arts; Humanities
and Social Sciences. Dr. Timothy Russell served as moderator.
Topics discussed included terrorism and how it
differs from war, Islamists, survivor trauma, how the attacks will
affect democracy and repercussions from a law enforcement perspective.
The
American Red Cross responds
MONGAUP VALLEY — The American Red Cross (ARC) in
Greater New York responded to the World Trade Center disaster by
assisting both victims and emergency personnel. The Sullivan County
chapter deployed several volunteers to the Westchester County Chapter,
where they were given physicals and sent to the city.
Others gave money and donated blood at various
sites set up in the area, and several people volunteered their services
in the Mongaup Valley office, helping John Cascona,
Sullivan customer service assistant, answer
phones.
Among these new volunteers are Joanne Gerow,
Jane Sarno, and Dennis Colin. ARC also
thanks registered volunteers Leah Sprauge,
Debbie Bausenwein and Ivette Rivera, Sullivan
Chapter board chairwoman Linda Barriger
and board member Marion Kassel.
Family Registration
Web
ARC has launched an online network to unite loved
ones with survivors of the September 11 attacks. The Family Registration
Web allows those in the impacted areas to self-register with the
Red Cross, helping ARC respond to the estimated 6,700 inquiries
received from concerned friends and family nationwide.
“Prior to today’s launch, we did not have an efficient,
automated method of gathering information from the impacted areas,”
said Dr. John Clizbe, ARC vice president
of Disaster Services. “Now our caseworkers can use the public’s
self-registered updates to match open inquiries, ensuring that family
and friends are again connected.”
The Family Registration Web can be found at www.redcross.org.
For information on how to donate money or time
in the disaster relief effort, call 845/583-8340. For blood drive
information, call 800/GIVE-LIFE.
Lend
a helping hand
REGION — In this time
of national crisis, the response to the needs of the rescue workers
and the families affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks
has been heartwarming and overwhelming.
Pike and Wayne County residents who wish to
donate clothes, food and other necessities may do so at the following
locations:
- The Mill Rift Inn will accept donations and
contributions for New York City Firefighters and the American
Red Cross from now until Friday, October 19, in conjunction with
their AIDS fund-raiser.
- The Matamoras Fire Department will accept
donations from now until Sunday, September 23. Items particularly
needed include socks, underwear, work boots, work gloves, blankets,
non-perishable food items and dog food to aid rescue workers and
search dogs.
- Apple Day Spa in Honesdale will host a Spa-A-Thon
on Monday, October 15, the proceeds of which will be donated to
the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Massage therapists and spa
technicians will donate their time to raise money for the relief
effort and relieve stress felt by area residents affected by the
tragedy.
Sullivan County residents can drop off needed
items at:
- Pavase’s Service Station on Cold Spring Road
in Monticello
- Prestige, 946 Old Route 17 in Harris
- Sullivan County United Way, 33 Lakewood Avenue
in Monticello
- Fosterdale Motor Lodge in Fosterdale
- Key Bank in Monticello
- Inward House, 81 Upper Ferndale Road in Liberty
The Tow Truck Association of Sullivan County and
Teamsters Local 455 have offered assistance in transporting donated
items to the Javitz Center in New York City for distribution to workers
and volunteers at the site.
To donate heavy equipment: visit home.nyc.gov/suppliesform.html.
To volunteer medical services: call 800/801-8092
To give blood, visit:
- Liberty Masonic Lodge, 20 Eagle Drive on
September 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Youngsville Firehouse on September 24, from
2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- For more information on where to give blood,
call 800-448-3543, 800/NY-BLOOD, or 800/BLOOD-88.
To donate money, contact:
- The Twin Towers Fund, c/o NYC & Company,
810 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10087-6999. This fund
was established by the City of New York.
- Contact your local American Red Cross
- Contact your local United Way center or The
September 11 fund, c/o The United Way of NYC, 2 Park Avenue, New
York, NY 10016
- Call 800/HELP NOW or 800/SAL ARMY
- Contributions can be made through JPMorganChase,
Citibank, HSBC Bank USA, North Fork Bank, M&T Bank, Dime Savings
Bank and GreenPoint Bank. Individuals with accounts at any of
these banks can make a direct contribution from their checking
account, savings account, credit card or with cash at any branch
within New York State, New Jersey or Connecticut and make a donation
to the Fund directly from their checking or savings account, credit
card or with cash.
- A Scholarship fund has been set up by The
National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association for the children
of the police and firefighters who died on September 11. Send
tax-deductible contributions to AIREF - Heroes Scholarship Fund,
8300 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
- ShopRite Supermarkets have established a
fund to benefit families and individuals affected by the World
Trade Center attacks, with an initial contribution of $100,000.
Customers interested in donating can do so at their local ShopRite
store in $2 and $5 denominations, through October 27.
 Receive
a helping hand
REGION — A number of services
are available to those in need during this national time of need.
For help and information contact:
- Missing Family and Friends Hotline: 866/856-4167,
212/741-4626, 212/560-2730
- To locate a missing person: 212/447-2998
- To report a missing person: 212/560-8029
- American Airlines Hotline: 800/245-0999
- United Airlines Hotline: 800/932-8555
- Office of Victims of Crime: 800/331-0075
- NYC Firefighters’ Hotline: 718/999-2541
- Morgan Stanley: 866/761-8365
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield: 866/761-8365
- U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Hotline:
202/647-5335
- To find information on military personnel:
800/984-8523 (Army), 877/663-6772 (Navy and Marine Corps.), 800/253-9276
(Air Force)
- dotPhoto, Inc., an online photo-sharing and
digital photography Internet resource, is hosting still photos
of victims or missing persons on www.dotphoto.com at no cost
Drop-in services:
- The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s
Services has established six drop-in centers for people to come
in and discuss the current crisis with mental health professionals
in groups or on an individual basis.
- For more information, call 212/397-4090 or
212/397-4250.
Mental health services:
- The NMHA has a number of resources available
to help schools, businesses, families and communities provide
mental health services to help people deal with trauma and counseling,
including The Mental Health LifeNet. Phone numbers in New York
City are: 212/995-5824 (English) , 212/298-3373 (Spanish), 212/254-2731
(Asian).
- For more information or to make a donation,
call NMHA at 800/969-NMHA, or visit www.nmha.org.
Church services:
- There are a number of churches in the area
where people can go for counseling and support.
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