Where to help Costa Rica earthquake victims

The Ombudswoman´s Office (2248-2374), the Christian charity organization Asociación Obras del Espíritu Santo (2286-5252), the Costa Rican Red Cross (2542-5000) and the National Emergency Commission (2210-2828) are coordinating all donations to assist those affected by Thursday´s earthquake. They can direct anyone wishing to donate to the nearest drop-off or bank account.

CNE is receiving donations in the following bank accounts:

Banco de Costa Rica: 91100-3 (colones) and 118281-1 (dollars).

Banco Nacional: 911-8.

Banco de Costa Rica has also set up an account to help victims and said it will match up to ¢250 million ($454,545) of the donated money. The account number, if you are a BCR client, is 001-250-0. For non-clients, the account number, or número de cuenta cliente is: 15201001000025008, and the bank´s identification number, or c édula institución autónoma, is:   4-000-000019.

BCR says that it will match any donations made by Jan. 23, up to ¢250 million ($450,000). Customers can also donate online by logging on to www.bancobcr.com, and by phoning (+506) 2258-9191. For more information on BCR donations, contact Kattia Morales (+506) 2287-9088 or (+506) 8388-0403.

Donations can also be made quickly and easily by text message from any Costa Rican cell phone within the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) network. By texting the word “DONAR” to one of the following numbers, you will automatically be charged the corresponding donation on your next bill: 1423 – ¢1,000 (about $1.80), 2423 – ¢2,000 ($3.60), 5423 – ¢5,000 ($9), and 9423 – ¢9,000 ($16.35).

The Costa-Rica American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) is receiving donations at its offices 300 meters north of ICE in Sabana Norte, and to its accounts with the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. Donations in colones can be sent to ##100 01 000 043517-2, dollars to ##100 02 000 616147-5. For more information, contact AMCHAM´s offices at (+506) 2220-2800.

The Red Cross has also designated Confecciones Borkar, S.A., the Alajuela-based business of AMCHAM President Michael Borg, as a donation site, located 800 meters west of the Catholic Church in San Poás. They can be reached at (+506) 2448-5575.

The Escazú Rotary Club has set up operations in the Hotel San Gildar in San Rafel de Escazú, and is seeking supplies including sleeping bags, milk, non-perishable food, candles and personal hygiene items. Contact the group at (+506) 2289-8843. They didn´t collect anything today. The club will meet tonight and after that, we´ll know if they´ll continue collecting donations.

Other aid organizations have posted information on a group on the online social networking site Facebook, called Terremoto Costa Rica: ayuda a victimas (Costa Rica Earthquake: help the victims, at
http://es-la.facebook.com:80/group.php?gid=43715883340.

Further, the Red Cross can be contacted at 2542-5000 (operations) or 2528-0000 (administration), and the National Emergency Commission´s call center is 2210-2725, 2210-2723, 2210-2763 and 2210-2764.

National Association for the Protection of Animals (ANPA) is also collecting donations for animals displaced by the disaster, and can be reached at (+506) 2255-3757 and 2255-7722.