By Steve Levin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project is collecting clothing, medicine and supplies for the beleaguered population of Cuba, which has been battered by two hurricanes in the past five weeks and may be in the path of a third by this weekend.

Based in Pittsburgh, the relief project is licensed by the U.S. government to assist Cubans through humanitarian missions and donations since a trade embargo has been in place for more than 40 years.

Estimates of damage to Cuba by Hurricane Charley in mid-August and Hurricane Ivan this week exceed $1 billion. Tropical storm Jeanne is expected to reach hurricane strength by Saturday, when forecasts project it crossing the eastern tip of Cuba.

Squirrel Hill native Stanley G. Cohen, international chairman of the relief project, said $20,000 of vitamins already have been shipped to Cuba.

"The embargo makes it more and more difficult to ship things there and get there," said Cohen, who has made 25 trips to Cuba since 1995 and plans to go again in about 10 days.

"Right now, we're just trying to keep the people there alive."

Anyone interested in contributing financially or through donations can contact the relief project at 412-521-2390 or via e-mail at bbrelief@earthlink.net.