Helping, an ocean away

The fund-raising efforts for the tsunami victims are going great, said Jutta Hopkins, executive director of the Boone County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“We have raised more than $15,000,” Hopkins said.

Staff at the Boone County chapter were so busy answering the phone and coordinating donation efforts on Monday that they hadn’t had time to lower the flags to half-staff, Hopkins said.

Other organizations across Boone County are also collecting money for the victims of the disaster.

Various area churches are conducting their own fund-raisers.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is encouraging members to donate to Lutheran World Relief. The financial institute will match each donation through April 15 up to $2 million, said Melissa Blomenkamp of Alive in Christ Lutheran Church.

In addition to national organizations – links are available at the White House’s USA Freedom Corps Web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov — Mid-Missouri residents can send tsunami relief donations to these local places:

• The Boone County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1805 W. Worley St. Columbia, Mo., 65203, 445-9411. E-mail to info@redcross-boone.org.
• Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 445-8808.
• Christian Chapel-Assembly of God, 3300 S. Providence Road, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 442-2258.
• Community United Methodist Church, 3301 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65203. Call 445-6131.
• Congregation Beth Shalom, 500 W. Green Meadows Road, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 499-4855.
• First Assembly of God, 1100 N. Seventh St., Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 443-3626.
• First Baptist Church of Columbia, 1112 E. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 442-1149.
• First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt St, Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 442-1164.
• International Community Church, 1205 University Ave., Suite 1700, Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 256-1720.
• Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church, 5350 E. Bonne Femme Church Road, Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 443-0617.
• Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St., Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 443-3111. The church guarantees 100 percent of donation will go to aid relief.
• Olivet Christian Church, 1991 S. Olivet Road, Columbia, Mo. 65201. Call 442-0336.
• Parkade Baptist Church, 2102 N. Garth Ave., Columbia, Mo., 65202. Call 443-4585.
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 Locust, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 443-3470.
• St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church-Elca, 914 West Blvd., Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 449-5674.
• Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Rollins Road, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 445-4469. Please memo the check: Tsunami.
• Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist, 702 Wilkes Blvd., Columbia, Mo., 65201. Call 449-4363.
• Woodcrest Chapel, 2201 W. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, Mo., 65203. Call 445-1131. Please memo the check: Asian relief.