The Samaritan Center will be hosting a matching gift campaign for the disaster relief efforts in Haiti.
Over the years, money has been turned in to the Samaritan Center designated for the Disaster Relief Fund. Since Katrina, that account has grown to $8,000, and the Samaritan Center is going to use that money to match any gifts that come in for Haitian disaster relief.
Gifts can be given online, at the registers, to the receptionist, or sent in via mail. The grand total of money collected will be going to organizations recommended through the Ooltewah-Collegedale Ministerial Association. These will be organizations of different churches in our community who are affiliated with international relief agencies.
Officials said, "We are currently in the process of contacting the nominated agencies to verify that they are taking an active role in moving needed supplies to the Haitian earthquake victims.
"We hope to finish this matching campaign by Jan. 21, so that we can get the money to the assisting agencies as quickly as possible."
The Samaritan Center is a social services agency in Ooltewah who helped more than 4,100 individuals in Eastern Hamilton County in 2009 with basic needs like food, rent, utilities, and personal care items.
Officials said, "Through this special matching effort, we feel privileged to have a small part in helping Haitians in much worse conditions have some of their basic needs met as well."