Prince Rupert residents helped raised $12,000 at a recent fundraising event to assist people affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck near Kathmandu, Nepal at the end of April.
“It was incredible. The community support has been so outstanding from start to finish; to think that we were able to raise that much money [in only 10 days],” said Morgan Sundin Gautam, who initiated the organization of the event along with her husband Dinesh Gautam. The couple met in Kathmandu a number of years ago, with Dinesh having many family members living in the country.
“The entire community just rallied together,” added Morgan.
Hundreds of people attended Prince Rupert’s Nepal Disaster Relief Fundraiser at the Prince Rupert Curling Club on May 7, which included a drop-in yoga class led by Dinesh, along with a loonie, silent and live auction. About 100 items were auctioned off, donated by community members and businesses.
An account was set up at Northern Savings Credit Union for those who couldn’t attend the event last Thursday, but wanted to donate.
As of May 8, more than $2,500 had been put into the “Nepal Relief Fund” at Northern Savings, bringing Prince Rupert’s fundraising total to more than $14,500. The account will remain open until May 25, the day the Canadian Government ends its dollar-matching initiative for registered Canadian charities aiding those affected by the earthquake.
All of the money raised in Prince Rupert will be donated to the Red Cross Nepal Region Earthquake Fund.