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04292015 Rug Industry Rallies to Aid Nepal Earthquake Victims

4/29/2015
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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