Big Y World Class Markets Team Up with AmeriCares for El Salvador Earthquake Relief

AmeriCares Foundation
Monday, 22 January 2001

AmeriCares, the international and domestic disaster relief organization, announced today a special partnership with Big Y World Class Markets enabling AmeriCares to bring further help to the El Salvador earthquake victims and their families with additional medical assistance, shelter and other emergency supplies.

Starting today, all 45 Big Y World Class Markets in western and central Massachusetts and Connecticut will be accepting monetary donations at each check out counter for AmeriCares earthquake response. The latest reports from the U.S. Agency for International Development indicate that twelve of the country's fourteen provinces have been affected by the massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake which struck on Saturday, January 13th. The dead now number 700, the injured over 2,500, and nearly 46,000 people have been evacuated to shelters.

"We are delighted to partner with organizations throughout the United States to provide HELP and HOPE to victims of this horrendous disaster," said Bob Macauley, Founder and Chairman of AmeriCares. "The people of El Salvador have suffered tremendous losses and they deserve our support. Big Y's compassion and desire to reach out to those devastated by this earthquake will help provide much needed humanitarian aid."

AmeriCares has already distributed its first airlift and sea container totaling nearly 63,000 pounds of relief supplies which arrived last week. A second airlift will arrive today, Monday, January 22, and a third airlift is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 2001. The relief supplies consist of antibiotics, analgesics, nutritional supplements, tents, blankets, towels, new clothing, rice, water purification equipment and other essential emergency medicines for the victims of the earthquake and mudslides in El Salvador.

The only American owned and largest family owned supermarket in the region, Big Y World Class Markets employs over 7,600 people in its stores, warehouses and store support center.

AmeriCares is the nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs—and supports long-term healthcare programs—for people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered over $2.9 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide.

For more information, or to contact AmeriCares Foundation, see their website at: www.americares.org