Community briefs for Sept. 7, 2005

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 | 8:57 a.m.

Wild Oats Market collecting donations

Wild Oats Market, at 517 Stephanie St., Henderson and 7250 Lake Mead Blvd., a leading national natural, organic and gourmet foods retailer, announced it will be collecting monetary donations to help aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Customers can donate any amount at the checkout stands now through Sept. 30 for the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund. The program will run in all stores throughout the country.

Jewish foundation creates relief fund

Jewish Federation of Las Vegas/United Jewish Community has established a humanitarian relief fund to aid members of the Jewish and general communities touched by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, the Western Florida panhandle and other affected areas. All contributions will be used to directly support those individuals affected by this natural disaster.

Donations can be made by check payable to the JFLV Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, 2317 Renaissance Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89119 or by visiting www.jewishlasvegas.com. For more information, call 732-0556.

High school students to join volunteers

Fifteen local high school students from Lake Mead Christian Academy traveled to Mississippi to join Red Cross volunteers in delivering food and water, cleaning debris, and distributing clothes and supplies. The disaster aid team will stay at local shelters among the families that have been displaced and are currently homeless.

The students traveled with adults form LMCA and Central Christian Church as part of the We Care Ministries, a locally based disaster relief organization.

Red Cross accepting donations

American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter is processing donations as quickly as possible and appreciates the community's patience during the process. They are working to increase their technical capabilities to respond to the outpouring of support they have received. Donations are being used to meet the critical needs of those affected by this disaster.

You can help the victims of this and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift by calling (800)435-7669 or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions may also be mailed to the Disaster Relief Fund at P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Online contributions may be made by visiting www.redcross.org or through the local Chapter by calling 791-3311, by mailing a local donation to the ARC, Southern Nevada Chapter, 1771 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 206B, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

'Trainathon' to be held on Saturday

"Las Vegas Trainathon," a charity event in conjunction with the Las Vegas Athletic Clubs will be held from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday at the LVAC, 5200 W. Sahara Ave., to contribute to the American Red Cross directly for the Katrina Relief Fund.

For more information, call Jose Fernandez at 338-3649.

Smith's to take money for victims

Smith's Food and Drug Stores will join Kroger divisions across the country in accepting cash donations from customers and employees throughout the month of September to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Donations will be accepted at check stands in all of the 128 Smith's stores in Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho Wyoming and northern Arizona. All monies collected will be forwarded directly to the American Red Cross for relief efforts tied to the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast earlier this week.

For more information about Kroger, visit www.kroger.com.

Web site aims to connect families

The American Red Cross with the support of worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has launched a Web site to help assist family members who are seeking information about loved ones living in the path of Hurricane Katrina.

Evacuees wishing to inform loved ones of their location can register their name via www.redcross.org and clicking on "Family Links Registry."