Like most Italophiles and people the world over, I am thinking of what to do to participate in helping the area devastated by the recent earthquake in Italy. While there is no way to repair the loss of life, one can lend economic support. Watching the Rai last night ithey mentioned that that is what is crucial right now.

So in that vein, here is the information for the Red Cross:

The IBAN number is:
IT40F0623003204000030631681
BIC/SWIFT CRPPIT2P086
Beneficiary: Associazione italiana della Croce Rossa
Subject: Terremoto Centro Italia

Additionally, Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food, has suggested that everyone encourage restaurants to put l’Amatriciana on their menus and then each restaurateur will devolve part of the proceeds from the sale of that dish to those in need. In Rome this is already happening. I think that’s a great idea and one I actually had thought of as well the night that the earthquake happened.

According to  Elizabeth Minchilli, a couple of New York restaurants are already doing this next week, Maialino and Marta, for example. If you have an Italian phone you can donate money using an SMS 45500.