Solidarity without borders: LGW of the USA serves as donation station for flood victims in Rio de Janeiro
Written by LGW
Solidarity without borders: LGW of the USA serves as donation station for flood victims in Rio de Janeiro
Da Redação 01/14/2011
New Jersey, EUA
In just a few days of mobilization, actions of the LGW in partnership with the people, companies and the media, collected and distributed more than 544 tons of donations to the victims of the rains.
In the first days of 2011, Brazil’s Southeast region suffered the consequences of the country’s greatest natural disaster. By the end of January, more than 860 people had perished and some 430 were still missing only in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, according to data supplied by local city halls. Among the survivors, the number of those affected by the rains had reached 91 thousand according to Civil Defense.
Brazilians did not simply watch, deeply moved, the suffering of the families punished by the floods and landslides. They formed a great chain of solidarity, engaged in helping these victims with prayers, donations and support. Their wish was to spread hope in moments of anguish.
Thousands of volunteers promptly headed towards the units of the Legion of Good Will spread throughout the country, especially in the Southeast region, and began to organize the non-stop flow of donations. In three weeks the LGW collected and delivered more than 544 tons of in-kind items to the victims of the rains. A sea of mud and the difficulties produced by landslides, contention structures and destroyed bridges compromised access to many cities. However, no obstacle was big enough to stop the truckloads of Solidarity offered by partner companies to reach their destination.
The media in action!
The media have been important allies in divulging the solidary mobilization in favor of the victims that were hit by the heavy rains in Brazil’s Southeast region. Television and radio stations, aside from websites, newspapers and magazines, reserved prime spaces to convey information about the donation stations and the most needed items in order to encourage people to make donations.
Relief through the World Wide Web
While thousands of donations were being delivered to the survivors from the tragedy in Rio de Janeiro’s mountainous region, the virtual world was showing its power through the establishment of a series of actions to benefit communities, districts, small associations and entire families. On Twitter, for example, the hashtag #prayforbrazil—created to support and draw attention to comments on the theme—registered the participation of more than 4.3 million people in 10 days, with more than 35 million messages from around the world.
The popular social network Facebook was also an important tool in divulging the donation stations. As soon as the Legion of Good Will of the United States published on its page a message requesting help, partners and volunteers appeared immediately. From New Jersey, the LGW sent to Brazil four tons of donations through a partnership with Fastway Moving.With regard to the items donated, the LGW volunteers from New Jersey will organize them into boxes to be transported by Fastway Moving company to the affected areas. The LGW units in Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo are helping the people with donations and through the support from several volunteers, local authorities and agencies.
LGW Social Center in New Jersey 20 Calumet Street Newark, NJ – 07105 Phones: (973) 344-5338 or (646) 398-7128
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