YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION ORGANIZES HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS

The following communication was sent to members of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) on Friday, September 2, by Seth Wilson and Jessica Torres, co-chairs of the YLS Diversity Committee and Michael Fox, vice-chair of the YLS Public Service/Pro Bono Committee.

As we watch the waters recede, we are all asking the same question: What can we do to help?
The answer: Volunteer your time and make donations of supplies and money.

Donate supplies

The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) Young Lawyers Section, and specifically the Public Service/Pro bono and Diversity Directors, are coordinating a supply drive. Please organize a collection drive in your law office. Notify us by e-mail if your office will be participating by the middle of next week, and then send us another e-mail one week later telling us what you have collected thus far. Please send these e-mails to Sharon Dina at sdina@mccarter.com. This will be an ongoing effort.

The YLS Public Service/Pro bono vice-director Michael Fox has independently arranged for rental trucks, storage and volunteer drivers to transport supplies we collect to the hardest hit areas. We will either pick up the supplies or will arrange for specific convenient and secure locations for you to drop them off.

The following is a list of practical supplies that are desperately needed:

• Salt
• Powdered Lime (non-pelletized) for sanitary purposes
• Camp Stoves (for boiling water /cooking), matches
• Fuel (Butane/Propane)
• Mosquito netting, air-mattresses, water-purification supplies (tablets, iodine, Brita Filters etc.)
• Medical supplies
• Ground sheets (to protect from dampness)
• Tarps/tents
• Toilet paper, paper plates/plastic utensils, soap, bleach, hand/bath towels,
• Clothing and food, including summer weight clothing for both children and adults, flip flops, shoes, socks, baby food/formula, diapers, coffee, chocolate (yes, chocolate)
• Candles, sanitary supplies
• Pre-paid telephone cards
• Other supplies: Garbage bags, cooking pots and pans, and anything else you'd take on a camping trip.

Volunteer

In the time leading up to the collection of these supplies, the Hartford Local Unit and Diversity Committee of the YLS are also organizing groups of volunteers to assist the Hartford Armory to coordinate and mobilize state supplies to the Gulf Coast. They need all the supplies and help they can get. As of now, the earliest they anticipate needing volunteers will be next Monday. We will send out an e-mail with more details as we get this information and will try to coordinate times when we can get groups to travel together.

The six state armories will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning today to accept bottled water; easily opened, nonperishable food and snacks; batteries; blankets; tarps; and tents. Please e-mail me if you would like to spearhead a particular armory from those listed below.

Hartford: 360 Broad St.
New Haven: 209 Goffe St.
New London: 249 Bayonet St.
Norwalk: 290 New Canaan Ave.
Putnam: 25 Keech St.
Waterbury: 64 Field St.

Give money or go there yourself!

According to the Hartford Courant here are some other opportunities to help:

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is seeking citizen volunteers for two-week deployments to help hurricane victims. Volunteers must first attend a two-day training course. Chapters across the state are sponsoring training. For more information, call the Charter Oak Chapter at (877)287-3327or the Waterbury Chapter at (203)755-1137

The Red Cross is also seeking monetary donations. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross, with "Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort" in the memo line. The organization also accepts online donations at www.ctredcross.org.

Salvation Army
To donate money to the Salvation Army, call 800-SAL-ARMY. Checks marked "Hurricane Katrina" can be sent to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 628, Hartford, CT 06142-0628. Donations can also be made at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. This group is also seeking volunteers to join hurricane relief rescue teams. Those interested should visit the organization's web site www.salvationarmy-ct-ri.org or call (860)543-8400.

Other donation opportunities can be found at the Hartford Courant's web site.

If you have any questions about these efforts, contact any of us:

Seth Wilson, (860)275-7008, smwilson@mccarter.com
Jessica Torres, (860)870-3273, jessica.torres@po.state.ct.us
Co-chairs, YLS Diversity Committee

Michael D. Fox, (860)489-5000, mfox@torringtonlaw.com
Vice-chair, YLS Public Service/Pro Bono Committee