Before a single note of music was played, the tsunami relief effort organized at Sunnycrest Mall last Friday had raised $500. And by the end of the three-hour musical fundraiser, nearly $5,000 in donations had filled numerous jars.
"I had to rush out to find larger containers for the donations twice," said organizer Michael Maser.
Musicians from all over the Coast showed up at Sunnycrest Mall Dec. 31, instruments in hand, lining up for a chance to play at the impromptu fundraiser.
"Musicians were coming out of the woodwork. We had some of the best jazz and bluegrass artists play," said Maser.
He originally planned to organize the busking event on B.C. Ferries, but was denied the opportunity by staff.
"I still think that's really crummy. It's very regrettable on their part," said Maser. He was told it was B.C. Ferries policy not to let buskers on board, even if the money donated was to go to charity.
Maser was disappointed but not discouraged in his desire to do something to help the victims of the tsunami in Asia.
He contacted Sunnycrest Mall and was quickly granted permission to set up his musical fundraiser.
"I felt all along that if we just put up a sign and a box people would make donations, but I wanted music to focalize it," he said.
Once the sign was up stating he was taking donations for the Red Cross to help victims of the tsunami, donations started pouring in.
"People didn't think twice. They opened their wallets and put $100 bills into the jar. And kids were emptying out all their pocket change," said Maser.
By the end of the three-hour event, Maser had collected five times the amount he was hoping for. Close to $5,000 was sent to the Red Cross to help relief efforts in Asia.
And that was just the beginning.
So many people on the Coast have felt a connection to the coastal towns and villages that were destroyed by the recent tsunami that they are organizing fundraising events of their own, looking at adopting villages, donating a day's wages and giving to one of the many charities doing great work in the areas affected by the tsunami.
Moved by the news of the disaster, 11-year-old Shelby Wilson decided to raise money for the Red Cross at the Polar Bear Swim in Davis Bay on New Year's Day. She contacted the Red Cross for permission to raise funds and decorated an ice cream bucket to hold the donations.
Her mother said Shelby acted entirely on her own initiative and plans to continue raising money for disaster relief.
"She stood on the steps with her ice cream bucket and said, 'can you please help, every penny counts'," said Shelby's mother. "She raised $33.58 that day."
The Roberts Creek Community Association is planning a relief benefit on Sunday, Jan. 16, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Roberts Creek Hall.
This six-hour event will feature music by various Coast musicians, speakers, a silent auction and a slide show by Alan Sirulnikoff.
Everything at this event is by donation and all money raised will go to Doctors Without Borders, an organization of doctors that is currently giving aid to residents of Asia hurt by the tsunami.
Organizers plan to have someone from Doctors Without Borders at the event to explain what they do.There will also be a table set up at this event to take names and numbers of people who wish to adopt a village in Asia.
"The difference with this idea is it will be for the long-haul, after the initial outpouring of donations," said Angela Pressburger, who will be manning the table. "Often, after the immediate relief, people forget about the victims and in about six months it really hits them in a profound psychological way." In conjunction with this event at the hall is a Kids with Coins event at Roberts Creek Elementary School.
This event will run from 2 to 6 p.m. and all students on the Coast are invited to bring in their change to be rolled and donated to an orphanage in the area affected by the tsunami.
"This is being organized by our Grade 7s and they're going to M.C. the event," said teacher Barry Krangle. "We've sent a fax to every school on the Sunshine Coast. We really want this to be a Coast-wide effort that is just being focalized at our school."
Many on the Coast have pledged a day's wages to the relief effort. The Lions Club on the Coast donated all proceeds from its Polar Bear Swim to its sister club in Sri Lanka that is giving aid to those in need. The Halfmoon Bay Coast Guard, which assisted on the water during the swim, also donated its usual pay to the Sri Lankan club.
Canadian Tire has set up donation boxes accepting either cash or Canadian Tire money, and cashiers can "top up" purchases with a donation. All donations go directly to the Canadian Red Cross. As well, the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families has donated $125,000 to the Canadian Tire Red Cross South East Asia Earthquake and Tidal Wave Relief Fund.
Coast Reporter is encouraging donations to the Canadian Red Cross. The newspaper has donated $100 to the relief effort and encourages others to drop by our office at 5485 Wharf Road in Sechelt to make a donation as well. For every donation over $5 Coast Reporter will acknowledge the giver (if they wish) on a special thank you page in an upcoming addition.
So far donations from readers total over $12,000 and are forwarded daily to the Canadian Red Cross.
You can also support one of the local events or write a cheque to one of the many reputable outreach organizations doing work in Asia.
Oxfam is a well-established charity organization currently providing food and shelter for tsunami survivors. You can make a donation to them by phone at 1-800-466-9326, by mail to Oxfam National Fundraising Office, 215 Spadina Ave., Suite 200, Toronto, ON, M5T2C7, or online at www.oxfam.org.
Gospel for Asia is a Christian organization that supplies food, clothing, medicine and housing and delivers the gospel. This organization is in Asia now and has been giving aid to those in need. Every cent given to this charity goes to the people it serves. You can donate to Gospel for Asia by calling 1-888-946-2742, sending a cheque to Gospel for Asia, 245 King St. E. Stoney Creek, ON, L8G1L9 or going to their website at www.gfa.org.
If you would like to donate to Doctors Without Borders, phone 1-888-392-0392, mail a cheque to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 1856, Merrifield, VA, 22116-8056 or go online to www.doctorswithoutborders.ca.
All of these charities provide tax receipts, and there are many more charities to choose from. Go online to www.command-post.org for an extensive list of charities taking donations to help with relief efforts.
Several people from the Sunshine Coast were travelling in the countries affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami. The latest word is that local travellers in the affected areas have contacted their loved ones and are safe.
Regan Stevens, who is teaching at an international school in China, was spending her Christmas break at a beach resort in southern Thailand. Her mother, Fran Stevens, says Stevens and her boyfriend had planned an excursion to Phi Phi Island, a popular vacation spot that has been devastated by the tsunami. Instead, they slept late and were woken by the sound of people screaming when the tsunami hit. Waterfront restaurants and shops were washed away, but the wave stopped about 50 metres from Stevens' bungalow. She spent the morning with the rest of the resort's staff and guests, huddled on a hilltop in case of more waves. She witnessed the recovery of a drowned body before returning safely to her school in China.
Joel Johnstone, a photojournalist who formerly worked on the Sunshine Coast, is now living in Bangkok. Johnstone reports that he was not personally affected by the disaster and was able to fly from Bangkok to Singapore on Dec. 26.
Kai Nestman, who is on a year-long Rotary Club exchange program in Thailand, was on a tour in the north of the country Dec. 26, far from the devastated coastal areas. He did not feel the earthquake.
Nestman's mother, Susanne Jorgensen, was on the ferry Dec. 26 when Nestman called on her cell phone to reassure her. "He said, 'Mum, I'm OK'. I said, 'That's nice.' I hadn't seen the news," remembered Jorgensen. "After I realized the scope of everything, I was overwhelmed."
