US Department of Homeland Security (Custom & Border Protection)

Roger Von Amelunxen Foundation Katrina Relief

Message to all CBP employees

(09/13/2005)The Roger Von Amelunxen Foundation has offered to provide financial assistance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Affected employees are encouraged to call the CBP Critical Operations Team, available 24 hours a day, at (888) 546-3727 and advise that they are in need of financial assistance. The Center will then take appropriate action to obtain help for the employee from the Foundation.

The Foundation was established in 1980 by Mr. and Mrs. George Von Amelunxen in memory of their son, Roger, a Customs Patrol Officer who was killed in the line of duty. Originally, the Foundation's primary goal was to provide immediate financial assistance to the families of U.S. Customs employees killed or injured in the line of duty. As the Foundation grew, its goals expanded to include financial assistance during emergencies caused by natural disasters, assistance in offsetting medical-related expenses, and other emergencies.

The Roger Von Amelunxen Foundation has already committed a substantial sum of money for this purpose, but the needs are enormous and the fund will need to be replenished to meet continuing requests for assistance. CBP employees who wish to help their CBP colleagues who have suffered displacement and loss in Hurricane Katrina can donate money to the Foundation. All contributions will be gladly accepted and can be earmarked for Katrina Relief.

Contributions may be sent via check directly to the following address:

Roger Von Amelunxen Foundation
104-15 100th Street Ozone Park,
New York, NY 11417
Attn: Katrina Relief

7/22/06 UPDATE: Found on website - http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/032006/03312006_3.xml

CBP Donates Thousands of Seized Clothing Items and Toys to Those Affected by Hurricane Rita (Friday, March 31, 2006)

CBP Headquarters
Office of Public Affairs
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Room 3.4A
Washington, D.C. 20229 Phone: (202) 344-1770 or
(800) 826-1471
Fax: (202) 344-1393

END UPDATE

OLD NOTE:
Clothing To Be Delivered by CalifCares, 11/27/05 18:37 ET The following article from the Associated Press notes that US Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection division is looking to distribute clothing and other articles from its inventory of confiscated goods. If you know of specific locations in Baton Rouge, Houston and other cities where displaced people are settling, please contact Kristi Clemens at (202) 344-1770 and see if you can arrange a delivery. This is one of those situations where materials and supplies are in storage somewhere waiting to be donated. It's up to us to make the initial inquiry and help coordinate the delivery. >> Katrina Victims Get Seized Knockoff Items By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The Yves St. Laurent and Tommy Hilfiger labels may be phony, but the thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims getting knockoff items seized by federal customs officials probably don't mind. Displaced survivors in the
Houston Astrodome can choose from counterfeit and abandoned clothing, toys, and even dog food. More than 100,000 items were quickly taken from warehouses and more will follow, said Kristi Clemens, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection division. The agency has some 1 million items stored, and Customs officials are going through their inventory to see what else would be useful. While the initial shipment went to Texas, officials are looking toward a wider distribution, Clemens said. For humans, virtually anything that you can wear is available: underwear, jeans, baseball caps, T-shirts, shoes and socks. For dogs: much needed food. For children, toys. For everyone: clean sheets and blankets. Clemens said officials are looking for locations to deliver items in Louisiana and Mississippi, and then will scout for shelters in other states. American businesses lose up to $250 billion annually from knockoffs, according to figures
released in a Senate hearing. Federal officials seized $138 million in counterfeited goods last year, up from $94 million in 2003. Counterfeit clothing currently accounts for about 18 percent of seized items. Law enforcement officials and other experts have testified that counterfeit clothing and other goods have been traced to supporters of terror organizations. Most counterfeit items come from China, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Russia, according to Customs officials.