Washington, D.C. - Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, today announced a number of programs and initiatives that will let federal employees across the nation contribute to the healing process of their government colleagues and other innocent Americans who were victimized by terrorist activities in Washington, D.C., and New York.

• Speed Relief, Benefits and Assistance - OPM has formed teams of specialists to assist with benefits information and to make sure that payments to individuals, survivors and other family members are expedited. Workers compensation benefits are available in the case of federal employees who were injured or killed in the attacks.
  
  
• Blood Donations - OPM is working with federal agencies to arrange sites and procedures to allow federal employees to donate blood for individuals who were injured during the attacks. Presently, OPM is encouraging people to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment in the coming days and weeks to help the Red Cross with its extraordinary demand for blood. To provide for this need, all heads of departments and agencies have the authority to excuse employees from work, without charge to leave or loss of pay, for purposes of blood donation.
  
  
• Combined Federal Campaign -- A special option will be created under the Combined Federal Campaign to allow federal employees to contribute directly to organizations providing relief for victims and their families.
  
  
• Within the next day, OPM will direct federal employees wishing to assist those in need or who themselves may be in need of assistance to contact the following website:

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.