Source: www.redcross.org

Our company is making a quarter-million-dollar contribution to earthquake relief efforts in China.

The $250,000 Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund (KCCF) donation to the American Red Cross is designated to support the efforts of its sister organization, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC).

RCSC has mobilized a force of about 35,000 staff and volunteers that are assisting with a variety of relief efforts. This includes the distribution of essential relief items such as food, water, clothes, quilts, flashlights, tents, water purification equipment, generators, cooking units, heavy-duty gloves, masks, medical equipment and medicine.

They are also providing medical care, search and rescue, damage assessments, psychosocial counseling, family tracing, logistics support and coordination.

The magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck southwestern China's Sichuan province May 12 was the worst to hit the country in more than 30 years. According to official Chinese government figures released Tuesday, the death toll has exceeded 40,000, and another 32,300 people still listed as missing. Nearly 250,000 injuries have been reported.

In all, about 10 million Sichuan residents have been impacted by the quake, with at least half of those currently in need of shelter. To learn more about the situation in China - as well as to find out how you can personally contribute to the relief efforts there - go to the American Red Cross website.

During the last five years, KCCF - the charitable arm of our company - has actively supported the victims of numerous natural disasters including the tsunami in South Asia and Africa, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the floods in Mumbai, India, and last year's wildfires in California and Montana.

In February, Kellogg donated three truckloads of our products to help storm victims in the tornado-devastated areas of the southeastern United States.