Phuket rises to send more flood-relief

PHUKET: On behalf of the Rotary Club of Patong Bach (RCPB) the Phuket Gazette office in Koh Kaew is serving as a drop-off point for flood-relief donations.

The reception desk is accepting cash as well as bottled water, clothing (particularly warm items), blankets, baby products, canned or dried food, life vests, flashlights, small boats, and anything else that donors feel might be of help to the millions in distress.

The Gazette will ensure that all donations are turned directly over to the RCPB. Those who wish to transfer funds to the RCPB directly may do so through following bank account:

Account Name: Rotary Club of Patong Beach / Charity (Disaster Relief)
Account Number: 563-3-014807
Bank Name: Bangkok Bank Plc, Co, Ltd
Bank Address: 147 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road, Patong Beach, Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Wire transfer SWIFT code: BKKBTHBK

Click here to see a map to the Gazette‘s offices. Our office hours are 9am to 5:30pm. Inquiries should be made to Jane Sriboonsom at 076-273555.

Meanwhile, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce (PCC) is calling for donations so they can buy flat boats and life jackets to assist flood victims.

Thousands of boats are needed for emergency services personnel to assist people directly affected by the floods, said PCC Chairman Dr Sirichai Silapa-archa.

“People have been donating many of the supplies needed, but there is also a need for more boats and life jackets,” he said.

The chamber has established the following donation guidelines for people wanting to help:

Donation for a whole flat boat: 5,000 baht

Donation for “half” of a boat: 2,500 baht

Donation for a “quarter” of a boat: 1,250 baht

Donation for a life jacket: 180 baht

As an incentive for individuals to make donations big enough for an entire boat, the chamber has offered to put the name of the donor on the side of any boat that the donor pays for in full.

Although calling for donations now, the chamber has yet to establish when to ship boats to Bangkok, saying that depends on when they have a full load of donations to be delivered there, and which areas are still flooded at that time.

Donations to the PCC can be made directly to the Siam Commercial Bank Phuket branch, savings account number 537-4-14187-1.

All donations will be evidenced by receipts indicating that the money was donated to help flood victims.

For more information, call the PCC at 076-217567, 076-217567 or 081-326 2506; or email pktchamber@gmail.com.

Also joining the flood-relief efforts is the Rotary Club of Tongkha, in Phuket Town.

The club has announced that all profits from items sold at its Charity Shop from now through the end of November will be donated in full to flood victims – with no deductions.

The shop, open from 5pm to 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, is located at Phuket Indy Market at Limelight Avenue, off Dibuk Road in Phuket Town.

The club is also receiving donations of flood-relief items at the store.

For more information, call Panee Koaysomboon at 081-089 2468.

As of today, Thai AirAsia is accepting donations of bottled water for flood victims in Bangkok and neighboring provinces.

“We are determined to use our connectivity to other destinations in order to collect large supplies of drinking water. We welcome donations from everyone and would like to invite individual donors, and all sectors – private, government and non-profit – to contribute to this good cause,” Thai AirAsia said in a statement.

Thai AirAsia asked for all donations to be packed appropriately for shipping.

Donation drop-off points are located at all AirAsia counters in Thailand’s airports, including their counter in Phuket.

Donations will be shipped along with bottles of water bought by the airline from local suppliers outside of Bangkok.

— Chutharat Plerin