Rug
industry executives are rallying to the aid of victims of Nepal's worst
earthquake in 80 years, and plans are underway to coordinate efforts as
retailers contact their Tibetan rug vendors to determine the best way to
help. Speaking with industry executives, it quickly became apparent
that rug importers have long been involved in charitable work benefiting
the impoverished country, providing on-going aid in the form of a
hospital, schools, and more. But the devastating 7.8 magnitude
earthquake which hit central Nepal on Saturday, April 25, has mobilized
those with infrastructures in the country, and propelled those at home
to action.
Feizy
Rugs
Feizy
Rugs is supporting The Global Fund for Children (GFC) with a $15,000
donation, as well as a commitment to provide a portion of the company's
sales through May 15th, in an effort to bolster the organization in
bringing critical relief to Nepalese children and their families. "As
rug manufacturers, we have worked for decades with the people of Nepal,"
said John Feizy, CEO of Feizy Rugs. "Helping the children of the world
to have a better life has always been a focus at Feizy and we recognize
that with a disaster like this, those children need our support now more
than ever."
ORIA
Lucille
Laufer, executive director of the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA)
says the organization has reached out to several members who have
operations set up in Nepal to assess how the association can help people
devastated by the earthquake. "We will collect money through the ORIA
Charitable Fund, and all monies collected will go directly to
organizations such as the Nepal Burn & Cleft Center - with funds
specifically earmarked for earthquake victims - and to AmeriCares and
other such organization which will deal with the immediate needs of the
earthquake victims," said Laufer, who has already received commitments
for donations from members. The ORIA Charitable Fund is a 501 c3 tax
exempt organization.
ORIA was
preparing its websites to accommodate online donations at press time, as
the National Emergency Operation Center in Nepal reported 11,000
injured, and 4,600 confirmed dead with a projected death toll of 10,000.
The quake's epicenter was 40 miles from Kathmandu, and eight million
people, more than one-quarter of Nepal's population, have been
affected.
Steve
Cibor, founder of Baltimore-based Tamarian Carpets told RugNews.com the
company has established The Phoenix Fund for Nepal Relief, a 501 c3
charitable fund which will "donate every penny collected to provide aid
directly to the earthquake victims." Tamarian decided to set up the
Phoenix Fund because of an outpouring of calls from customers. "We have
300 retail clients; everybody is contacting us. They all want to help,
but they want to be sure their contributions will go 100 percent to the
families." Cibor said donations can already be made through a link on
the company's website, and assures that funds will be dispersed
transparently. "There will be no middleman or fees for administering the
fund. We will even absorb fees from credit card companies and PayPal
charges, so that everything goes to the neediest in Nepal," he
explained.
GoodWeave
Another
organization coming to the aid of the Nepalese people is GoodWeave,
which has sustained damage to its Hamro Ghar center for rescued
children, but reports all staff and residents are safe. GoodWeave is
currently assessing damage to its day care centers and determining the
effects of the quake on vulnerable weaving factories. The organization
has also established an emergency fund to help ensure the safety and
recovery of those affected.
Warp &
Weft
Warp &
Weft in New York City is waiting to hear reports from all of its
manufacturing units, though showroom manager Kristy Krivitsky says most
production sites appear to have only been moderately damaged. As of
April 27, the company will send 15 percent of sales proceeds on all
stock and custom orders, as well as balance payments on pending orders
directly to its weaving factories to disperse to their weavers. Warp &
Weft reached out to its customers and industry associates to suggest
contributions to organizations like GoodWeave, STEP, and The Nepal Cleft
& Burn Center, a hospital which is also highly recommended by Tamarian
and ORIA.
The Tibet
Rug Company - Cleft and Burn Center
"We're
filled to the brim with victims of the earthquake," reported Brian Mehl,
director of sales for The Tibet Rug Company in Salt Lake City when
queried about the disaster's effect on The Nepal Cleft and Burn Center.
Founded 2002 by The Tibet Rug Company's Jim Webber with the support of
other rug importers and private donors, the Center officially opened a
new 16,000-foot hospital in March 2014. Undamaged by the earthquake the
Nepal Cleft and Burn Center will be providing medical services to
victims throughout the recovery period, Mehl said.
According
to Cibor, Tamarian co-owner Ryan Higgins flew to Nepal on April 28 to
personally assess the damage. "Ryan will look to where we can direct our
assistance to the community [of weavers] and to determine the effect on
all the rug weaving factories damaged by the earthquake. Tensions on
the looms could cause serious interruptions in production and products
already on looms might have been damaged. This could have a catastrophic
effect on employment in an already impoverished country. But we are not
limiting our aid to the rug industry. Anyone who needs help will
receive it," he said.
According
to the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S.
imported $23.9 million worth of handmade rugs was from Nepal last year,
approximately one-eighth of the $254.6 million in rugs imported from
around the world.
Editor's
Note:
The news from Nepal is fluid and if any of our readers have updates
concerning the rug industry's humanitarian aid to earthquake victims,
please let us know. We will post updates as information is received.
04.29.15
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