[South Florida DX Association] Hams Remember Children

Mon Oct 18 23:43:06 EDT 2004

Here is a great project for our clubs to take on & help the less
fortunate folks in our area.

73,

Jeff  WA4AW

ARRL  SFL  ACC

Hams Remember Children

We need your help.

Over the past weeks, we have all heard of the devastation in central
Florida.
Many hams actually heard it first hand through volunteer service or on
the 
HF nets.
While many areas of the country were affected to differing degrees,
Florida 
was the worst.
Thousands of families are without a place to live and will be homeless
over 
the coming
Holiday Season.  For a child suddenly living out of a tent, or car or 
someone else's home,
the 2004 holiday season will be anything but jolly.
But hams are coming to their rescue in a new way.  Your club can help!

Between now and Thanksgiving, hams across the country are being asked to 
purchase a
new child's toy and send it with a QSL card or 3x5 showing their callsign
to:

  Ham Radio
  The United Way White Dove Project
  50 Kindred Street - Suite 207
  Stuart, FL  34994

"The storms and their aftermath have been especially traumatic for
children.
In addition to the frightening experience of going through the
hurricanes,
youngsters are coping with a great deal of stress felt within their
families
and at school," writes Carol Hodnett, a Director at the United Way site,
who
will be handling the distribution end of the program.

"Because of the overall strain on our state, we have been looking outside

the area
for help in supporting the White Doves Holiday Project this year. We are
so 
incredibly
thankful to you and the American Radio Relay League for thinking of the 
children of
our area in planning your toy drive."

The Martin County United Way in Stuart still has the facilities to manage
a 
large toy
Drive.  They have agreed to serve as the collection point and also
coordinate
distribution to the surrounding counties whose agencies are no longer
capable
of managing such a project.

"Just let me know what you need," offered Steve Blary, N1XC, the ARES 
Emergency
Coordinator for Stuart County, Florida.  "This is a great idea and we're 
ready to help at this end."

Unwrapped toys for boys and girls of ages 1 to 14 will be gathered and 
shipped by amateur
radio operators to the Stuart facility between now and Thanksgiving for 
distribution over the
holidays.   Non-hams are also encouraged to join in this effort to
provide 
for the thousands
of children suddenly homeless due to the series of hurricanes.

Those wishing to donate money instead of toys can send a check to:
  White Dove, c/o United Way of Martin County
  50 Kindred Street, Suite 207, Stuart, FL  34994

Recent figures from FEMA and the Red Cross showed over 22,000 homes 
destroyed and
over 40,000 severely damaged.  Whole families who once had their own home

or apartment
are now living wherever they can, in vehicles, or tents, or sharing 
undamaged homes or shelters.
It is not simply a shortage of affordable housing; it is a lack of ANY
housing.

We are asking all hams to make the coming Holiday Season a little bit 
brighter for a child by
participating in this toy drive.
Purchase a new toy and ship it to the Ham Radio/United Way-White Dove 
address.
Maybe it's not a new home to live in, but knowing that someone "out
there" 
remembers you is
a start for these children.

What kind of toy?
  The homeless children come in all ages,
  but we suggest thinking of age 1 to 14, both boys and girls.

Should I wrap it?
  No, just put it in the box unwrapped.

Why the QSL card?
  The cards will be collected and sent to the ARRL headquarters to track 
results.

Can my non-ham friends join in?
  SURE!  And if you give them your QSL cards to put in the boxes,
  your area will get the credit for their generosity.

Can't I just give to something here locally?
  Of course you can.  We're not saying "don't give" to any other place or

cause.
  We are simply offering this option for hams to both show the world that
we
  remember the victims in disasters after the headlines are gone, and
doing
  something good for children in real need.

I know our club can get more people involved than their club....
  Club and area and section challenges are encouraged.
  We'll use the QSL cards as a way to track results.

Can I just give money?
  Money is always good.  Checks should be made payable to:
  White Doves, c/o United Way of Martin County
  50 Kindred Street, Suite 207, Stuart, FL  34994

Just how bad is it really?
  The following numbers are from FEMA and the Red Cross

County   Destroyed homes Damaged homes  Displaced People

Charlotte     5013               12006           24235
Escambia     5224               9385           23006
Desoto              3644           2671           13445
Brevard          2607               2498               9254
Polk              2064               2520               8310
St. Lucie             840               2538              5273
Palm Beach        366               1451               2510
Indian River         1830           1759               6232
Volusia          332                   1124           2056
Orange          82                       325               636
Santa Rosa         938               3026           6446
Lee                  331               654               1513
Osceola          158               652               1355
Martin              301           1473               2283
Hardee          367               1052               2768

You can help make the coming Holiday Season a little bit brighter for a 
child.  Maybe it's
not a new home to live in, but knowing that someone "out there" remembers

you is a start
for these children.  Buy a toy (or three!) and send them with your QSL
card 
today.

73,

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06011

<mailto:w3iz at arrl.org>w3iz at arrl.org
860-594-0230

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