September 24, 2005
Hurricanes Rita and Katrina: Emergency Relief

Over the past three weeks in response to Hurricane Katrina, The PRASAD Project has elected Direct Relief International to direct aid to frontline health clinics throughout the affected Gulf region.

As Hurricane Rita makes a landfall in Texas and Louisiana, PRASAD will continue to support Direct Relief’s frontline health Clinic relief work. Direct Relief has made contact with health providers in Texas. Clinics have been identified throughout Texas that are currently serving evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and those that are preparing to deal with more evacuees from Hurricane Rita.

The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) members operate 50 safety-net clinics throughout the state at 200 sites (as some clinics operate multiple sites). They regularly serve people with limited resources and, since Katrina, 20 of the clinics report having experienced increased patient visits from displaced persons.
Direct Relief’s listing of available product has been furnished to each of the Association’s clinics. Once requested with specificity and upon confirmation of appropriate medical and other appropriate licensing for prescription medicines, products can be prepared to be shipped within hours.

PRASAD is accepting donations that will directly support this relief effort. The funds received will be forwarded to Direct Relief to provide immediate medical and humanitarian aid.

Donations can be made by phone or by sending a check to:

The PRASAD Project
465 Brickman Rd.
Hurleyville, NY 12747
845-434-0376

please write Hurricane Rita on the memo line of your check

Donations received by PRASAD for Hurricane Katrina relief are directly supporting relief efforts on the ground, though the assistance of Direct Relief International, an organization well known to PRASAD as an efficient and effective health-care relief organization.

PRASAD is working with Direct Relief, and has identified healthcare relief sites in the disaster area. One center that has been identified is the Acadiana Outreach Center, located in Lafayette Louisiana. The Center is providing shelter and medical services to evacuees as well as serving as an intake and distribution center for other shelters and healthcare facilities in the area. With PRASAD’s sponsorship medical and other supplies are being sent directly to this site.

This weekend, the number of large 'special needs' shelters in Louisiana, established to care for evacuees needing medical attention, was expanded from nine to 23 shelters. On September 6th a shipment was sent from Direct Relief to this area. This is the seventh emergency shipment to clinics, shelters, and other health facilities in the region that are treating Hurricane Katrina victims and an increasing number of evacuees. The Tuesday shipment to Louisiana constitutes Direct Relief's largest single emergency domestic relief shipment since the organization was founded in 1948.

PRASAD has partnered with Direct Relief since 1977 to improve the quality and availability of healthcare services in Maharashtra, India. Over the years, Direct Relief has provided medical and dental supplies in support of PRASAD’s mobile medical outreach programs and eye camps. Thousands of people have received primary healthcare services or had their sight restored as a result of our collaboration. In addition, Direct Relief and PRASAD worked together to provide critically-needed medical goods and to help fund the provision of emergency medical services to tsunami survivors in South Asia and share a common and enduring commitment in the supportive and effective way they serve communities.

Direct Relief has extensive experience responding to both international crises and supporting safety-net clinics in the United States. Established in 1948, Direct Relief is a privately funded, nonsectarian humanitarian agency that provides medical assistance to impoverished areas and in response to humanitarian emergencies by identifying local free and low income clinics and providing them with medical product support and grants used for personal healthcare, transportation, and medical needs. For more information about Direct Relief please visit their website at www.directrelief.org.

Thank you for your generous support.

August 31, 2005

From PRASAD we extend our heartfelt support to the people whose lives have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

PRASAD is accepting donations that will directly support the relief efforts. The funds received will be forwarded to reputable organization/s working to provide immediate medical and humanitarian aid.

Donations can be made phone or by sending a check to:

The PRASAD Project
465 Brickman Rd.
Hurleyville, NY 12747
845-434-0376

please write Hurricane Katrina on the memo line of your check