Philadelphia's West African Community Urging Donations And Attention To Ebola Crisis

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A coalition of West African groups in the Delaware Valley is inviting the public to lace up on Saturday to raise awareness about those who are suffering, directly or indirectly, from Ebola.

"We are walking to make a difference," says the Rev. Moses Dennis, president of the Liberian Ministers Association.

The group is spearheading a three-mile "Operation Crush Ebola" walk, run by the Ebola Response Coalition, which includes groups representing residents from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other West African countries.

"We will distribute literature distributed by the health department and we will also encourage the general public to be compassionate toward the affected countries," Dennis says.

They will also be selling t-shirts and wristbands that say "Crush Ebola," and accepting donations via the Mayor's Fund For Philadelphia (select "Coaltion for Ebola Reponse").  Or, interested donors can call 215-686-0321.

The walk kicks off Saturday at 10am, at 70th Street and Woodland Avenue, in Southwest Philadelphia.

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