Donate at Turkey Hill to support relief efforts in Haiti.

According to the American Red Cross, York-Adams Chapter, the number of people affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti January 12 could reach 3 million.

In spite of a massive international relief effort involving nations throughout the world and human services organizations like the American Red Cross, published reports continue to describe the situation as increasingly desperate. Infrastructure damage has caused widespread loss of access to drinking water, electricity, and other vital resources. The danger of infectious disease is escalated, due to compromised sanitation.

To support relief efforts in Haiti, Turkey Hill launched a program which enabled customers to donate to the American Red Cross at cash registers in our stores. Turkey Hill matched up to $10,000 in customer donations, which was collected through January 31, 2010.

The customer donations and corporate match from Turkey Hill provided additional resources to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross, which, according to a January 14 statement, has already committed $10 million to relief efforts in Haiti.

The American Red Cross has also deployed to Haiti an Emergency Response Unit of specialized personnel, and is providing supplies, such as blankets, kitchen sets, and water containers, to help meet the immediate needs of families. Additional Red Cross personnel, supplies, or financial assistance may be mobilized if needed.

As one of 186 members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the American Red Cross is also supporting efforts of the Haitian National Red Cross to provide first aid and evacuation assistance to people affected by the disaster.

At Turkey Hill, we always try to be good neighbors by giving back to the local communities we serve, but a disaster at this level calls on all of us to respond as global citizens. By making neighborhood Turkey Hill stores available as collection points, we hope to make it easier to contribute to the global relief effort.

Any donation, large or small, will help support the Red Cross — so we greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to give in one of our stores.

The American Red Cross name and emblem are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross will not receive your contact information. Should you require a receipt from the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to donate by phone or give online at www.redcross.org. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org.