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Local group raising
aid for hard-hit Cubans
By Steve Levin, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, PA. Thursday, September
16, 2004.
The B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project
is collecting clothing, medicine and supplies
for the beleaguered population of Cuba,
which has been battered by two hurricanes
in the past five weeks and may be in the
path of a third by this weekend.
Based in Pittsburgh, the relief project
is licensed by the U.S. government to assist
Cubans through humanitarian missions and
donations since a trade embargo has been
in place for more than 40 years.
Estimates of damage to Cuba by Hurricane
Charley in mid-August and Hurricane Ivan
this week exceed $1 billion. Tropical storm
Jeanne is expected to reach hurricane strength
by Saturday, when forecasts project it crossing
the eastern tip of Cuba.
Squirrel Hill native Stanley G. Cohen,
international chairman of the relief project,
said $20,000 of vitamins already have been
shipped to Cuba.
"The embargo makes it more and more
difficult to ship things there and get there,"
said Cohen, who has made 25 trips to Cuba
since 1995 and plans to go again in about
10 days.
"Right now, we're just trying to keep
the people there alive."
Anyone interested in contributing financially
or through donations can contact the relief
project at 412-521-2390 or via e-mail at
bbrelief@earthlink.net.
Copyright
©1997-2004 PG Publishing Co., Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
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