Day’s pay proposed for donations

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 9:46 a.m.

Workers who have not yet given donations to help Americans locally and nationally in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are being urged to donate a day's pay via their computers.

United Way of Southern Nevada has joined a nationwide group of organizations to help launch "One Day's Pay." The campaign, which runs through Dec. 31, is being conducted over the Internet (OneDaysPay.org).

"Our displaced workers need assistance with rent, child care, transportation and job retraining," Garth Winckler, local United Way president, said in a news release. "This is placing a tremendous burden on local charities at a time when they're also struggling to raise money to cover current programs."

Other events to raise money locally and nationally:

* Several local organizations have joined forces to purchase gifts for the children of rescuers who died in the terrorist attacks. The U.S. Forest Service and Clark County Fire Department Rural Fire Departments are buying "Smokey Bear" stuffed animals to be sent to the children in the New York City area in December. Contributions can be made at the USFS office at 2881 S. Valley View Blvd. No. 16 in Las Vegas.

* Employees of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center have donated $41,000 to the Sept. 11 Fund established by the United Way and New York Community Trust. The gift includes $31,000 in employee contributions and $10,000 from the Sunrise Sunshine Club, an employee activities association.

* Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has donated two truckloads of goods to the four area Opportunity Village Thrift Stores for inventory to sell to raise funds. Opportunity Village, which provides training and jobs for the mentally retarded, had requested help in the wake of the economic slowdown brought on by the terrorist attacks.

* Business Bank of Nevada and its employees have donated more than $15,000 to a variety of community-based organizations that have been struggling in the wake of the terrorist attacks and the economic downturn. Among those helped by the bank are the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Nevada Chapter, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Nevada, Opportunity Village Magical Forest and the United Way of Southern Nevada.

* Dexter Factory Stores will donate a portion of its Veterans Day sales today through Monday to the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund. For every pair of shoes sold, Dexter's will donate $1 to the fund. Dexter's, based in Maine, has local stores at Pointe Plaza and Belz Factory Outlet World.