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Guyana Folk
Festival Secretariat
1368 E. 89 STREET SUITE 2, BROOKLYN
NEW YORK 11236, U.S.A.
TEL: 718.209.5207 FAX: 718.209.6157
WEBSITE:
www.guyfolkfest.org
Contact Person: Claire Goring
The Guyana Folk
Festival Committee, the Guyana Cultural Association,
Support
Guyana’s Underprivileged, Inc., The
Organization for Social and Health Advancement in
Guyana (OSHAD)
are
involved in efforts to provide material and
psychological support to the people of Guyana during
this period of stress. The group is operating as
Guyana Flood Relief-OSHAG (http://www.guyanafloodrelief.org/)
This is in
support of the efforts of Consulate of Guyana (New
York) and the Tri-State Alliance.
Material
Support
Since the start
of the flood crisis in Guyana, the group has
organized a number of community meetings. The most
recent was held on Wednesday, January 26, 2005. In
addition, the group has received support from
Guyanese in New Jersey and other communities in the
New York-Tri-State region. Carol Jonas and Carol
Fraser mobilized support in New Jersey and have
collected more than 300 blankets. Rawle and
Wynette Jonas also coordinated contributions of
sheets and covers from Guyanese in New Jersey.
The group has
also received support from home-town organizations.
The Committee for the Advancement of Plaisance has
made a donation of $1000 to the relief effort.
Caribbean Cargo, Fox Graphics, North American
Airlines, Williams Shipping, Woodbine Ballroom, and
other companies have also been providing unselfish
support.
The religious
community is also making donations. Edward
Meertings-George and Rickford Burke coordinated a
donation of food items from Bishop William Bennett
of the Upper Room Baptist Church.
On Friday, 28
January 2004, the Guyana Flood Relief-OSHAG team
airlifted 8 barrels of food items to Guyana with
compliments of North American Airlines.
On Monday,
January 31, 2005, the Guyana Flood Relief-OSHAG
team airlifted another 11 barrels and 272 blankets,
sheets, and toiletries.
Another 20
barrels of food and other critically needed items
will be sent by February 5, 2005.
Distribution in
Guyana is coordinated by Support Guyana’s
Underprivileged, Inc. The distribution sites target
lower East Coast from Sophia to Mahaica, especially
residents in the backlands. In Georgetown,
distribution sites are at the Malteenoes Sports
Club, Thomas Lands; Mildred Mansfield Sports Club,
Werk-en-Rust, and Raphael Realty,Charlotte Street.
Psychological
Support
The Guyana Folk
Festival Committee is also helping to organize of a
number of events to support the psychological needs
of Guyanese at home and abroad during this crisis.
Several cultural events will be held during the
year, leading up to Guyana Folk Festival, September
2-4, 2005.
The Concert for
Guyana, scheduled for Sunday, February 20, 2005,
will be the first of these cultural projects.
Guyanese artists in London, Miami/Fort Lauderdale,
New York, Toronto, Barbados, and Guyana will be
participating. The concert is also a vehicle to
raise funds to support flood relief.
An ecumenical
service of praise and thanksgiving is also being
planned. The venue and date will be announced soon.
The effort
continues.
Another
community meeting is scheduled for Thursday,
February 3, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodbine
Ballroom, Church and Bedford Avenues, Brooklyn.
Guyanese living
in the Connecticut area can drop off food items at:
Ferron’s W.I.
Shipping Co.
735 Blue Hills Avenue
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Other
fund-raising strategies are being developed.
Unframed reproductions of watercolor paintings of
the Guyanese artist Angold Thompson will be provided
for donations of $50 or more. Each reproduction is
8” x 10” and is printed with archival inks on high
grade watercolor paper.
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO
GUYANA FLOOD RELIEF - OSHAG
(Donations are Tax deductible)
MAIL TO: THE GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, NY INC.
1368 E. 89 STREET, SUITE 2, BROOKLYN, NY 11236
FOOD ITEMS NEEDED
Blankets, Mosquito Nets, Sanitizers,
Chick Peas, Canned Soups, Corn Beef, Sausages,
Sardines, Cheese, Tuna Fish, Luncheon Meat, Canned
Ham, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Crackers, Cereals,
Lemonade Mix, Hot Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Canned
Vegetables, Mosquito repellent, Neosporin & A&D
Ointment, Garbage Bags, Sanitary Napkins, First Aid
Kits, Tooth Brushes, Soap, Toothpaste, Combs etc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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DENNIS NELSON - 718 262 8393
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CLAIRE GORING- 718 209 5207
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EDGAR HENRY - 718 469 8131
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CAROL BAGOT - 347 683 1291
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NJ: CAROL JONAS - 201 967
8410
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CAROL FRASER - 973 313 9062
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