Pound Ridge, NY Sept. 21—According to sources throughout the floorcovering industry, the economic and emotional impact of the September 11 attack is strongest the closer you get to Ground Zero. While New Yorkers are still in a state of shock, still staying away in droves from shopping, eating out and most other activities, consumers in South Florida and other parts of the country have for the most part returned to business as usual.

New Jersey based rug importer Nourison has added its name to the list of companies donating funds to help the families of victims and rescue personnel. During the month of October, Nourison will donate 5% of all sales of its Nourison 2000 line to the Red Cross and the New York Times 9/11 Neediest Fund. It will guarantee a minimum contribution of $50,000 or the accumulated percentage of sales, whichever is greater.

As we reported yesterday, two floorcovering installers—Erick Sanchez and Michael Diaz—are among the missing in the World Trade Center rubble, and we urge the industry to make sure the families of those victims are taken care of.

Erick Sanchez, 41, was a foreman for the Long Island City, New York contract firm Soundtone. Sanchez was working on an installation at the Aon Corporation in Tower 2, the second building to be hit. He and an associate had started down from the 98th Floor when he remembered that an apprentice was working on the 92nd floor. Sanchez went back to get the apprentice when the second plane hit Tower 2. The apprentice had already made his way to safety. Sanchez leaves two children in their 20s.

Michael Diaz, the other missing installer, worked for the Manhattan contract dealer Sherland & Farrington. Both he and Sanchez were members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, which has set up a fund for them and thirteen union carpenters who are also among the missing. The fund is the New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Relief Charity Fund/9-11-01 Memorial. Checks should be made payable to the fund and sent to Stuart GraBois, The NYC District Council of Carpenters, 395 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.

Here’s a rundown of other organizations that have established funds for victims so far. We’ll update this list as we receive new information:

            • DuPont will donate $5 million, primarily for the education of the children of firefighters, police officers and other uniformed emergency response personnel who lost their lives as a result of the attack. This part of the contribution will be channeled through one or more organizations. Another portion of the contribution will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to meet immediate needs in both New York City and Washington, D.C.

          • The Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration has started a fund for victims. All funds raised will be sent to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The ASCR will also provide a matching donation of $5,000 for the first $5,000 collected. Contributions should be sent to: ASCR Foundation, 8229 Cloverleaf Drive, Suite 460, Millersville, MD 21108.

Copyright 2001 Floor Focus Inc