AHOSKIE – Though there is no local effort under the Red Cross banner being conducted for relief efforts in the wake of the tsunami, local assistance is available.

According to Jim Self, disaster mitigation officer for the Elizabeth City based local Chapter of the American Red Cross, local residence can help with the relief.

&uot;What is needed more than anything is money,&uot; Self said. &uot;The first thing people think about is food and water, but what is very important to remember here is that we are talking about a world… a different culture, that is far, far away.

&uot;To send food is not culturally accepted and the cost of sending water is far greater than the cost of purifying water,&uot; he added.

Therefore, the almighty dollar is still the best help in this effort.

Self said that approximately 92.5 cents to 93 cents of each dollar went to the specified request of the donor.

&uot;In other words, if a person writes out a check for $25 and puts in the memo line that this is for victims of the tsunami, we are obligated to make sure those dollars are used for that,&uot; he said.

&uot;But what we are recommending people do is to make donations or contribute to the International Response Fund.

&uot;By doing this, we can be a lot better stewards of the money and more efficient is something else should happen,&uot; he added.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the relief efforts caused by the tsunami can do so by going online to www.redcross.org and going through the process of making a donation using their secure site for credit cards.

Those who do not wish to use the internet or a credit card, can mail a check donation to the American Red Cross, 905 Halstead Blvd., Unit 3, Elizabeth City, NC 27909.

The Elizabeth City charter covers Hertford, Gates, Camden, Currituck, Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Dare counties.

For more information about the Red Cross’ role in the disaster relief efforts, interested persons can check out their website mentioned above.