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 The charitable aspect of this year’s Leader Wedding Fair will reach halfway across the world. Admission fees from this year’s fair will go to the International Relief Fund of the American Red Cross to aid victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that struck several countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
“We’ve always chosen a local charity in the past, but the need is so overwhelming there that it seemed like the right thing to do,” said Leader publisher/editor Patrick Martin.
Other local groups also have gotten into the act.
The Seckman High School chapter of (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is holding a month-long fund-raiser called Tsunami of Change during lunch periods at the Imperial school.
Students at Antonia Elementary School also are organizing a fund-raiser.
“Our student council decided to collect donations for the next three Fridays and set $500 as their goal,” principal Phyllis Williams said. “Our community always opens up its hearts and pocketbooks. These children came up with this because they knew the community would support it.”
The student council is naming the campaign, “Families Helping Families.” Proceeds will be donated to the Arnold office of the American Red Cross.
The student council at Senn-Thomas Middle School in Herculaneum organized a student/faculty basketball game that raised more than $1,200 for Save the Children’s tsunami relief efforts.
Kathy Lass is director of international services for the St. Louis area chapter of the Red Cross. She said such spontaneous fund-raisers are the rule rather than the exception.
“They’re pretty much popping up on their own. It’s really incredible,” Lass said.
She said interest in helping is high. “It’s unusual. The proportions are so strong. It is still staying in the minds of people.”
Lass said the American Red Cross is working with hundreds of other relief organizations to try to coordinate relief efforts.
“The Red Cross has laid out certain areas that we’re going to focus on – one is water and sanitation – water for hygiene and the safe disposal of waste,” she said. “Cholera is a concern, and malaria.”
Transportation is a huge problem in many of the affected areas, she said.
“The biggest issue is getting to the people,” Lass said. “We’re trying to distribute all these things to people – shelter supplies, food aid which is essential.
“There never was a very sophisticated transportation system in some of these areas. The big challenge is maintaining people until we and the other humanitarian organizations can develop something more permanent.”
The ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) has set a goal of $400 million for its relief efforts. By mid-January, the organization was more than halfway to its fund-raising goal.
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