Please donate to help our brother and sisters affected by this tragic earthquake in central Italy...

The membership of the Italian Center of Poughkeepsie, “Casa Italiana,” are appealing to the Mid-Hudson community to join them in gathering donations to help the devastated earthquake victims of the Lazio Region of Italy. This effort was recently announced by Ernie Bruno, President of the Center, both he and the Executive Board feel this project is appealing not only to members of the center but to the larger community.

Because of its’ wide appeal they have reached out to Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and he has agreed to lead this important effort. Along with the Italian Center, other organizations and businesses are planning fund raising events to raise funds for this important relief project. County Executive Molinaro reiterated the importance of this fundraising effort. Many individuals, businesses, and organizations have been calling both the Center and his office asking how they could help and where contributions could be sent.

After considerable research the Executive Committee has made arrangements with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), inquiring about the immediate needs of the affected people. The Center has arranged with CRS to have donors send their check or contribution to the Italian Center where it will be accounted for and forwarded to CRS’s “Earthquake In Italy Fund”.

All contributions will be individually acknowledged by both the Italian Center and CRS and can be given in person and/or mailed to:

The Italian Center

Attn: Secretary - Earthquake Fund

227 Mill Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

For more information or questions about the Earthquake Relief Fund, please contact: John Mazzetti, Secretary of The Italian Center at (845) 797-5506.

The towns at the epicenter of the recent earthquake in Italy were Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. These small towns of 2,000 to 3,000 people each, located in the north of Italy’s Lazio region, were reduced to ruins. Many of the homes and buildings in the area are made of unreinforced brick or concrete frame buildings vulnerable to earthquakes, thus offering little resistance to the powerful temblor, thereby reducing the area to rubble.

As reported by CNN on August 25th, “At least 247 people were killed after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy, according to Italy’s Civil Protection Department." They said there were at least 53 people killed and at least 100 injured in the town of Amatrice. Other fatalities were reported in the nearby towns of Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. More than 1,000 people have been displaced by the quake, and the Civil Protection Agency stated that, “no residents will be allowed to sleep in the devastated towns until all of the remaining structures are checked by the authorities."

Pope Francis called for prayers for those affected by the disaster, while Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, said "The entire country should rally with solidarity around the affected populations. At the moment we need to employ all our forces to save human lives, treat the injured, and ensure the best conditions for the people displaced."

In May 2012, a pair of earthquakes killed dozens of people in northern Italy, while in April 2009, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit in the Aquila region of central Italy, killing 295. The recent earthquake that occurred the night of Wednesday, August 24, struck an area close to the 2009 earthquake. Italy is no stranger to deadly quakes.

earthquake IN Italy fund

ITALIAN CENTER

All contributions can be mailed to:

The Italian Center

Attn: Secretary - Earthquake Fund
227 Mill Street

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601