Arbor Snowboards Urges Industry Support For The Victims Of Hurricane Mitch
by Adam Nagler, Arbor Snowboards
11/10/98

Having had nothing but joy from Hurricane surf on both the east and west coasts over many years, we were particularly saddened by the disastrous impact of Hurricane Mitch.

The irony that one person's exhilaration can be another's devastation hit us especially hard. In some ways the feeling is helplessness. We want to do more, but we do what we can.

At this point the storm, which mercilessly tore through Central America 12 days ago, has been declared the worst natural disaster for the region in the 20th century. Honduras, which was hardest hit estimates the loss of life in their country alone at close to 15,000, with another 8,000 persons missing, 90% of the countries infrastructure and 70% of natural agriculture destroyed.

Estimates are that by the year 2027, when some of us are 60 years old, Honduras may be rebuilt to where it was before the storm; providing peace and calm reign in the region (which historically it has not). Apply the above numbers to your hometown, your favorite winter resort, the area surrounding company headquarters, and they will take hold in your gut.

Survivor's in hardest hit Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala need your support. The American Red Cross and other relief groups are looking for financial support rather than in-kind contributions (food, clothing, building supplies etc...), so that they can take the moneys and buy goods either in the countries themselves or in surrounding countries. This infuses both local and regional economies, rather than cycling funds back into our own economy. In addition, import duties, re-packaging costs, and shipping costs for the sending of bulk goods are greatly reduced. Medical supplies do come from Mexico, the U.S., Europe, Japan and other developed nations.

If you feel more comfortable making a donation to your regional office (which has a much more personal feel to it) rather than national, find the Red Cross on-line at www.redcross.org. All you have to do is plug in your zip code, to get the address and phone number of your closest Red Cross office. Even at the large regional office here in Los Angeles, the staff took time to answer all of our questions.

Credit card donations and checks can also be sent to the national office. All donations are tax deductible. Please make your donations out to:

Hurricane Mitch Disaster Relief Effort
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

/ General
/ Vital Information
www.redcross.org

All our contributions will make a difference in the lives of the victims of Hurricane Mitch.

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