Minneapolis Bridge Kindness

Minneapolis Bridge Kindness
PRESS RELEASE

Muslims Offers Condolences to Victims and Survivors of Minneapolis Bridge Catastrophe and encourages Blood Donations

Dallas, TX - August 2, 2007. The World Muslim Congress encourages every one to donate blood and the funds to the victims and survivors of the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse, there is a shortage of blood type 'O', please donate.

To help one in need is helping the whole humanity, we are a nation of kindness and goodness and we need to take care of each other " echoed Mike Ghouse, President, World Muslim Congress.

Here are the other organizations attending to tragedy in kindness;

WASHINGTON, DC – Aug. 2, 2007 (MASNET & News Sources) On August 1, 2007, media outlets were rocked as Minneapolis witnessed the collapse of its 8-lane, I-35W bridge, a main artery in the Minneapolis/St. Paul (Twin Cities) area. Reports indicate as many as 30 people missing, 79 or more injured, with the medical examiner's office confirming four fatalities.

MAS Freedom (MASF), as the civic and human rights advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), offers its condolences to everyone affected by the I-35W bridge collapse, and offers appreciation to Senator Amy Klobuchar, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Ryback, and Congressman Keith Ellison (reported to be arriving on the scene today), for their quick response and efforts on behalf of those in need during this crisis.

"Pulling together in this critical time of need is incumbent upon us as a community. Please distribute this announcement widely in order to facilitate assisting as many people as possible," implored MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray.

The Muslim Community is urging Muslim community members within proximity of the catastrophe area to organize blood donation drives. Alternatively, community members are encouraged to contact Red Cross centers or Memorial Blood Centers of the Twin Cities area to make an appointment to donate blood.

CAIR - MINNESOTA - ST. PAUL, MN, 8/2/07 - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on Muslims in that state to donate blood to help those injured in yesterday's deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

To offer your support in this time of crisis, please contact the following:

MAS Service Corps
Phone: (319) 892-0256
Email: info@masservicecorps.org
Website: http://www.masservicecorps.org/

Red Cross
Phone: 1-800-448-3543
Website: www.givebloodgivelife.org
Memorial Blood Center (Between 9AM and 9PM)
Address: 3200 Main St., NW, Minneapolis, MN - Phone: (763) 210-0032
or Address: 737 Pelham Blvd., St. Paul, MN - Phone: (612) 871-6636
Website: http://www.memorialbloodcenters.org/MBC/DesktopDefault.aspx

Memorial Blood Centers is reporting a critical shortage of Type 'O' blood.

Survivors of the bridge collapse are also encouraged to register as 'Safe and Well':
Family Assistance Center
Holiday-Inn Metrodome
1500 Washington Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: (612) 871-7676.

So far the Red Cross reports having provided more than 2,000 meals and more than 3,000 snacks to families and first responders on the scene, in addition to providing counselors to provide comfort to those affected by this disaster. If you are unable to give blood please visit the Red Cross website to learn about other ways in which you can help.

Sen.Klobuchar has already announced that up to $100 million in funds for rebuilding and recovery of the 1,900 foot bridge, while Transportaton Secretary Mary Peters has announced a $5 million grant to help pay for rerouting traffic patterns around the disaster site.

U.S. government officials have also sent help from the national Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the FBI, the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Contact MASF toll-free at 1-888-627-8471 or by sending an email to MAS4Freedom@aol.com.