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Glendale News-Press (California)
December 26, 2014 Friday
Locals pack boxes of supplies for residents in Gyumri
by Kelly Corrigan, Glendale News-Press, Calif.
Dec. 26--An Armenian city still reeling from an earthquake in 1988
that killed more than 25,000 people and displaced thousands of others
will receive more than 30 boxes of winter coats and medical supplies
that donors and members of Unified Young Armenians packed up in
Glendale this week.
This marks the fifth year that Unified Young Armenians has collected
clothing and supplies for a city in Armenia.
This year's focus turned to Gyumri, which still has nearly 4% of
121,000 residents living in shantytowns more than 25 years after the
7.0 earthquake hit, according to an article on Eurasianet.org, which
provides information about political, economic, environmental and
social developments in the countries such as Armenia.
The area's weather dips to freezing temperatures and the unemployment
rate is high, according to the article, in which Gyumri City Council
member, Levon Barseghian, said, "The earthquake in Gyumri continues.
For 25 years, we are living over and over again what happened within
41 seconds."
In Glendale on Monday night, locals packed up 33 boxes with medical
supplies and new or gently used coats, said Aroutin Hartounian,
president of Unified Young Armenians.
The Glendale-based organization also helps mobilize locals to march in
Hollywood each year to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and it
oversees other community efforts such as hosting election forums or
offering free Saturday school for local youth as young as 6 years old.
Unified Young Armenians partnered this year with United Shipping
Group, also based in Glendale, who volunteered to ship the boxes at no
cost, as they have done in past years.
"There are many people still living in those makeshift bungalows and
it's a very dire situation," Hartounian said via a phone interview on
Tuesday, when the temperature in Gyumri was 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
But the donation period isn't over yet; it won't end until Dec. 31.
Unified Young Armenians continues to collect gently used or new coats,
hats, gloves and scarves, as well as medical supplies spanning from
wraps and bandages to crutches and hospital beds, which they have
shipped off to Armenia before.
"Whatever we can ship," Hartounian said.
"Every year, we are lucky enough to have a good amount of
participation from the community, especially younger people who are
more prone to renewing their closets," he added. "For us, it's another
way of mobilizing and harnessing the community's resources and
community's power."
FYI
To donate items, drop them off at United Shipping Group's two
locations: 1307 E. Colorado St. in Glendale or 14103 Victory Blvd. in
Van Nuys.
For more information, call (818) 383-0018.
December 26, 2014 Friday
Locals pack boxes of supplies for residents in Gyumri
by Kelly Corrigan, Glendale News-Press, Calif.
Dec. 26--An Armenian city still reeling from an earthquake in 1988
that killed more than 25,000 people and displaced thousands of others
will receive more than 30 boxes of winter coats and medical supplies
that donors and members of Unified Young Armenians packed up in
Glendale this week.
This marks the fifth year that Unified Young Armenians has collected
clothing and supplies for a city in Armenia.
This year's focus turned to Gyumri, which still has nearly 4% of
121,000 residents living in shantytowns more than 25 years after the
7.0 earthquake hit, according to an article on Eurasianet.org, which
provides information about political, economic, environmental and
social developments in the countries such as Armenia.
The area's weather dips to freezing temperatures and the unemployment
rate is high, according to the article, in which Gyumri City Council
member, Levon Barseghian, said, "The earthquake in Gyumri continues.
For 25 years, we are living over and over again what happened within
41 seconds."
In Glendale on Monday night, locals packed up 33 boxes with medical
supplies and new or gently used coats, said Aroutin Hartounian,
president of Unified Young Armenians.
The Glendale-based organization also helps mobilize locals to march in
Hollywood each year to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and it
oversees other community efforts such as hosting election forums or
offering free Saturday school for local youth as young as 6 years old.
Unified Young Armenians partnered this year with United Shipping
Group, also based in Glendale, who volunteered to ship the boxes at no
cost, as they have done in past years.
"There are many people still living in those makeshift bungalows and
it's a very dire situation," Hartounian said via a phone interview on
Tuesday, when the temperature in Gyumri was 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
But the donation period isn't over yet; it won't end until Dec. 31.
Unified Young Armenians continues to collect gently used or new coats,
hats, gloves and scarves, as well as medical supplies spanning from
wraps and bandages to crutches and hospital beds, which they have
shipped off to Armenia before.
"Whatever we can ship," Hartounian said.
"Every year, we are lucky enough to have a good amount of
participation from the community, especially younger people who are
more prone to renewing their closets," he added. "For us, it's another
way of mobilizing and harnessing the community's resources and
community's power."
FYI
To donate items, drop them off at United Shipping Group's two
locations: 1307 E. Colorado St. in Glendale or 14103 Victory Blvd. in
Van Nuys.
For more information, call (818) 383-0018.