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It's been a hurricane season for the record books, and Saratogans have been pitching in at every level of the community to raise money for storm victims.
Merchants in the Village donated to charities a percentage of sales on Sept. 15 in a daylong fundraising drive in which 43 businesses participated. Approximately $20,000 was raised that day, most of which was donated to the American Red Cross with the remainder going to The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and the Episcopal Relief and Development fund.
Bella Saratoga owner Bill Cooper organized the effort. He was hoping Village merchants would raise at least $35,000, but said "Katrina fatigue" might have been a factor in missing that goal.
"It was a nice community effort," he said. "The businesses worked together to raise money and help out."
The Saratoga City Council voted Sept. 21 to contribute 50 cents for each Saratoga resident to the Santa Clara Valley American Red Cross. That organization asked the mayors and city managers of every city in Santa Clara County to attend a meeting to discuss the response to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief and recovery efforts.
City Councilwoman Aileen Kao attended the meeting representing Saratoga. The money raised by cities in the county will go to offset costs associated with housing and other evacuee needs. The portion the city of Saratoga is contributing is approximately $15,000. The city council voted unanimously to pass a motion to contribute that amount to the Santa Clara Valley American Red Cross.
"My belief is that if there were a national disaster in our area, I hope that outside communities would support us," Mayor Kathleen King said.
In a grassroots effort, Cyrus and Rosanna Saffaie are planning to walk nonstop from their home in Saratoga to San Francisco. They will start their pledge walk at 4 p.m. on Oct. 7, walking to San Francisco via El Camino Real. They will walk 18 to 20 hours straight, stopping only for water and bathroom breaks before reaching their finish line at the Golden Gate Bridge. So far they have collected over $2,000 in pledges and hope to raise $5,000, which will go to the American Red Cross.
"We knew it was important that every American do what they could to help those in the Gulf Coast," Cyrus Saffaie said.
To contribute to the Pledge Walk for Hurricane Katrina, send checks payable to the American Red Cross to 12960 Paramount Court, Saratoga, CA 95070.
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