Freedom of the Seas to bring goods to Haiti

from floridatoday.com:
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas will leave Port Canaveral next week with a load of goods and supplies for earthquake-rocked Haiti, according to a spokeswoman.

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The ship, scheduled to set sail Jan. 24 for Labadee, is one of several the cruise line is sending to the catastrophe-struck nation in coming weeks as part of a $1 million donation to relief efforts.

Donations of water, cooking oil and dry food products, such as beans and rice, are being sought.

Ships carrying rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water, canned goods and other items donated by Royal Caribbean vendors and suppliers set sail Monday and Tuesday from Miami, and Friday from Fort Lauderdale, spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said.

In addition to working with charity group Food for the Poor to distribute supplies, the cruise line said it would donate to the relief effort, as well as to the company's Crew Relief Fund, which more than 200 Haitian crew members can turn to for assistance.

Current and future guests also will be able to contribute to the charity's Haiti Relief Fund via the Web or their onboard accounts, the company said.

"In addition to our financial contribution, Royal Caribbean will continue to provide economic support through the continuous business we bring to Labadee," chairman and chief executive officer Richard D. Fain said in a prepared statement.

Royal Caribbean also is working with charitable organization Pan American Development Foundation and the Solano Foundation, the company's foundation in Haiti, according to a news release."
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