Images of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province, killing over 21,500 people, have been flooding the media for five days now.

And several Lancaster County charities are accepting monetary donations to provide disaster relief for the earthquake's victims.

The Akron-based the Mennonite Central Committee accepts donations for earthquake victims and transfers 100 percent of the funds to Chinese relief agencies.

Among the committee's partners is the Amity Foundation, a Christian  organization which promotes "education, social services, health, and rural development" in Western China, according to its Web site, www.amityfoundation.org.

Amity Foundation Project Coordinator Tan Hua said in an e-mail that over 90 percent of the money the organization receives goes toward relief work. The money will be used toward food, water, shelter and building construction.

Larry Guengerich, communications  coordinator for MCC's East Coast division, said many disaster victims receive plastic sheets that they prop up and use for shelter until they can begin rebuilding.

So far, the Amity Foundation has collected 6 million yuan ($858,910 U.S.) of its 10-million-yuan ($1,431,516 U.S.) goal, Hua said. But the organization will probably have to increase its goal due to the rising damage estimates.

Guengerich said he understands that fundraising for the disaster victims will be difficult, because many organizations are also raising money for cyclone victims living in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

But he said he has faith that they will come through with the donations.

"There's only so much people can give," Guengerich said. "But we know, in the past, people have donated (anyway)."

"We've experienced this before with the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. This is what we're called to do."

The committee accepts donations in three ways. Checks can be designated "China emergency assistance" and sent to 21 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501. Or, they can be made using a Visa or MasterCard by calling 1-888-563-4676 or visiting www.mcc.org/donate.

MCC is also accepting donations for cyclone victims in Myanmar. Donations should be designated "Burma emergency assistance."

"Just because of the ability to cover it, we know China is getting covered (in the media)," Guengerich said. "But we don't want them to forget about Myanmar."

Donations are tax-deductible and receipts will be issued, typically within three to seven days.

The Susquehanna Valley Red Cross is also accepting funds for disaster victims in both China and Myanmar.

"The reports of what's going on in these countries touches (people's) hearts," said Kathleen Smyser, the organization's public relations officer. "It's a human response."

The organization is working through the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Donations can be made to the organizations' China Earthquake Relief Fund, the Disaster Relief Fund or to the International Response Fund.

Smyser suggested donating to the International Response Fund.

If donations are made to the China Earthquake Relief Fund, for example, and the Red Cross raises more money than necessary, the organization must try to return the excess money to donors or reallocate it, she said.  Donations made to the International Response Fund, however, benefit those in China, Myanmar and the next spot a disaster hits.

Donations can be made online at www.redcross.org, by phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish-speaking) or by mail. Checks can be sent to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018. Designations should be indicated on the memo line.

Also, Baltimore-based Lutheran World Relief is supplying emergency aid to China and Myanmar. LWR accepts donations online (www.lwr.org/giving) or by phone at 1-800-597-5972. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832.


Staff writer Liz Navratil can be reached at Lnavratil@LNPnews.com or 481-6014.