Kelowna

The Canadian Red Cross has announced they are issuing a country-wide appeal asking for donations to support relief operations for communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy across the Caribbean and in the United States.

Photo: The Canadian Press

A view of the storm damage over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, N.J., Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012

Currently, the Red Cross is providing food, water, safe shelter, and community services in seven countries impacted by the storm.

"The needs in affected communities are great, and recovery will be a long-term process," says Conrad Sauvé, secretary general and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross.

"Local volunteers have been responding around the clock to meet urgent life-saving needs of disaster affected communities. The Canadian Red Cross is proud to support their efforts."

Hurricane Sandy had a severe impact in the Caribbean, where it killed 69 people and destroyed or damaged more than 110,000 homes.

Damages are particularly extensive in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica. The storm also affected as many as 60 million people in the United States and Canada, where assessments of the extensive damages are ongoing.

"The Canadian Red Cross is not only raising funds but also has trained disaster response personnel and emergency supplies on standby for deployment anywhere our help is needed," adds Sauvé.

The Red Cross is only accepting cash donations and Okanagan residents can help by contacting their local Red Cross office at 1-800-418-1111 or by donating on-line.

The Salvation Army in Kelowna is also willing to accept donations for relief.

"If people want to leave donations for relief we're happy to funnel that for them through our office in Toronto," says Director of Business Administration, Donna Thibadeau.

Federal regulations require that the Salvation Army use a central location for international relief efforts.

"They will get it to the relief efforts in the states. All donations that go to foreign causes have to go to our office in Toronto, but we're happy here in Kelowna to be the catalyst of that."

To get more information or to donate through the Salvation Army call 250-860-2329.