Mayor Newsom today announced new city efforts to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief. These efforts include a new partnership with Safeway Inc. to place coin counting machines in city buildings, a new citywide payroll deduction program, and use of 311 as a resource for Haiti donation referral.
“San Franciscans have a deep understanding of the devastation caused by natural disasters and we stand ready to assist Haiti in providing relief to the residents in the difficult days and months ahead,” said Mayor Newsom. “The City is committed to helping the residents of Haiti, and Safeway’s assistance will allow for donations in some of our city’s most visible locations.”
The citywide payroll deduction program enables city employees to donate money to the San Francisco Haiti Relief Fund directly from their paychecks. The program will roll out to City employees next week with deductions to begin March 16. The program will run for 4 pay periods.
The Safeway Foundation is partnering with the City of San Francisco and Mayor Gavin Newsom in support of the San Francisco Haiti Relief Fund. Fifteen San Francisco based Safeway stores will collect customer donations for the city’s relief fund to assist The Red Cross, UNICEF, Partners in Health and The Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund. Safeway is also providing coin collection stations at more than six city/county building – providing government employees and the general public the ability to contribute loose change and receive a receipt for their tax deductions. The city locations include City Hall (Polk street side), Moscone Center, Hall of Justice, DeYoung, Pier 1, and the Academy of Science.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Mayor Newsom and the city of San Francisco on this special relief fund,” said Karl Schroeder, President, Northern California Division of Safeway. “Our goals are the same – to help the residents of Haiti. We believe San Francisco is leading the way on cities and counties rallying to the cause.”
Additional Haiti relief efforts by the City and County of San Francisco include incorporation of donation referral information into the City’s 311 service system. The City and County of San Francisco established 311 to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects residents, businesses, and visitors to Customer Service Representatives ready to help with general government information and services. 311 call takers and the 311 web-site will provide information regarding the coin collection stations in city buildings, as well as contact information for all Haitian relief donations to the following:
1) The American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
1-800-REDCROSS
Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10
2) The Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund
www.clintonbushhaitifund.org
Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10
3) UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/
phone: 212-686-5522
4) Partners in Health
http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti
phone: 1-800-367-5437
Source: Press Release
Newsom is desperate to stay in the public’s eye. That guy doesnt have a caring bone in his body. Its very obvious. Study his face and his body language. How pathetic…using Haitians to get some notoriety. I dont see Newsom going down there to help physically. Maybe if he’d get some respect.
I would like to note that Sirona Cares Foundation is accepting donations of humanitarian aid which will be packed and flown via Coast Guard C130s in the coming weeks as the emergency efforts slow. Sirona Cares is being supported by Local 798 and all fire houses in San Francisco are collecting for this effort. Many have little money to give, but are enjoying giving items they do not need and time to sort at our King Street facility. Thanks to all helping Haiti, we were there for a year before the quake, and we will be there for rebuilding and continuing our efforts there to build sustainable communities.