Miles away, Minnesotans are showing support for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings by wearing black laces in their running shoes and T-shirts from other races.
Rachel Radabaugh Eichhorst, of Wilmar, Minn., said she decided to show her support Tuesday by wearing a T-shirt from a 5K run that she participated in October 2012.
On Saturday, she plans to wear a Boston Marathon bib, which she printed, while running in the SCHEELS Half Marathon Run at St. Cloud State University. The race is expected to have 2,000 runners.
People worldwide have posted to the Facebook page Laces of Love for Boston to show their support by wearing black laces in the left shoe of their sneakers. According to the group page, the left running shoe or athletic shoe is the one nearest to the heart – similar to a wedding ring.
Others are showing their support by giving donations to help Boston Marathon victims and rescue efforts.
The Bloomington group Wiggle Your Toes, a nonprofit helping amputees and their families regain independence and mobility, are collecting donations for victims who lost limbs in the Boston bombings. The group says it will match donations up to $10,000.
- Wiggle Your Toes donations can be made here.
At the scene in Boston, the Salvation Army is providing support for the survivors and first responders, according to the group. The agency responded with two mobile kitchens at the scene to give spiritual and emotional support for families and emergency responders.
- Donations for the Salvation Army’s Boston Marathon efforts can be made here.
The Boston First Responders Fund for the victims of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack will be administered through the Boston Firefighter’s Credit Union. According to Paris, 100 percent of the donations will go to the victims.
Community members can donate through mail, online, or over the phone:
- Boston’s First Responders Fund
c/o Boston Firefighters Credit Union
60 Hallet Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
www.bosfirecu.com
1-857-220-0133
The American Red Cross has sent about 450 additional units of blood, platelets and plasma to hospitals in Boston, according to the group. The agency is reporting that there’s currently enough blood on the shelves to meet patients’ needs in Boston.
However, eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment to give in the days ahead. There’s especially a need for Type O negative donors, which is often used during emergencies when there’s no time to determine the patient’s blood type.
- Information about scheduling an appointment to give blood is available here.
However, those giving to recovery efforts should remain weary.
A fake donation was set up following the bombings on Twitter, according to WCPO in Tampa, Fla., an ABC News affiliate. The Boston Marathon twitter account promised to donate $1 for Boston Marathon victims for every retweet.
The Twitter account has since been flagged and suspended.
Below are tips from the Minnesota Attorney General on how to avoid charity scams:
- Research the organization before giving.
- Be cautious about how you make donations.
- Don’t feel pressured by emotional appeals or urgent requests to donate.
- Make sure the charity identifies itself and has tax-deductible information.
- More information about the tips is available here.
The Better Business Bureau is also warning people about possible charity scams. For tips on how to give with confidence or information about reporting a scam, click here.
See Full Story at KSTP
