Dear friends,

As you are all aware by now the destruction caused by Hurricane Gustav to Pinar del Rio and Isle of Youth in Cuba has been devastating.  The world is just beginning to get a glimpse of such tragedy.

We believe the moment calls for action NOW. It is the reason for this letter.  Different organizations and politicians have called for a moratorium of current travel and remittance restrictions to the island.  We wholeheartedly support such an initiative. But knowing the mindset of the current administration, and being realistic about election year politics, we do not envision any sort of positive change in the current restrictions that could help the Cuban people.

So we urge you to choose the most sensible, most direct and most effective way to help and that is to contribute monetarily using tax exempt donations to any of these humanitarian agencies:

JEWISH SOLIDARITY, a 501.C.3 not for profit organization with a license to secure donations for Cuba relief.  You can send your donation check to: JEWISH SOLIDARITY, attention: Maricusa, 100 Beacom Boulevard, Miami, FL 33135.  Check should be marked “humanitarian relief”.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES/Caritas Cubanas, a not for profit agency of the Catholic Church who also holds a license to provide aid to Cuba. Checks should be made out to Catholic Relief Services and sent to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.  Checks should be marked:  “For Cuba Gustav Relief”.

For those of you in the Miami area who would prefer to take food items in lieu of a check donation, you can do so by taking these to The Daughters of Charity at 500 NW 63 Avenue in Miami.  They also have a license to send aid to Cuba and are sending two containers in the next few days.  Items they have expressed a desire in getting are: powdered milk, evaporated milk, canned little hot dogs, lentils in packages, black and red beans in packages.

WE BELIEVE THESE ARE THE FASTEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO HELP NOW.  RECIPIENTS WILL BE THE PEOPLE OF CUBA AND IN NO WAY WILL THE DONATIONS BE RESTRICTED DUE TO RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

THE LARGER NEED TO FUNDAMENTALLY OVERHAUL U.S. POLICY REMAINS.  BUT THE MOMENT CALLS FOR URGENT HELP.

Muchas gracias.

The Cuban American Commission for Family Rights