New York Restaurant Employees' Disaster Fund September 19, 2001 -- Within days of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, numerous New York restaurants exhibited endless generosity by providing much needed supplies and manpower to assist in disaster relief. Now the New York State Restaurant Association has set up the New York Restaurant Employee Disaster Fund to assist families of restaurant personnel affected by the tragedy. Within days of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, numerous New York restaurants exhibited endless generosity by providing much needed supplies and manpower to assist in disaster relief. Now the New York State Restaurant Association has set up the New York Restaurant Employee Disaster Fund to assist families of restaurant personnel affected by the tragedy. "The timing is immediate, the needs are great, and we respectfully ask for your support in this critical matter." — Rick Sampson, NYSRA president "While we do not have an accurate count, we have estimated that thirty to forty restaurants were destroyed or forced to close and that many restaurant employees perished in this nightmare," says Rick Sampson, NYSRA's president. "Given this unprecedented level of human and economic devastation to the restaurant community, the Association’s Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly to set up the New York Restaurant Employee Disaster Fund (NYRED). Further, they agreed to commit $100,000 from NYSRA’s Trustco Investment Fund to be used to match pledges made by the foodservice industry." Donations can be mailed directly to : NYRED Fund c/o Trustco Bank 1892 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12205 (Please make checks payable to NYRED Fund) or sent to: NYRED Fund New York State Restaurant Association 455 New Karner Road Albany, NY 12205 (Please make checks payable to NYRED Fund)