Following the devastating and terrible events of the May 12 earthquake, the local expat community of Chengdu is rallying to support its fellow local residents of Sichuan Province in relief and recovery efforts to overcome this disaster.

Foreigners living in Chengdu are concerned with relief and recovery efforts in the disaster areas. They want to give, they want to personally help and they want to see the victims of this natural disaster. Under the auspices of local expat businesses, appeals have begun for donations to earthquake victims. One of these is the efforts being undertaken by a group of expats in partnership with local Chengdu residents, led by Peter Goff, through the cooperation of The Bookworm.

Local expat residents have been coming into the Chengdu Bookworm since May 13th and offering emergency materials to be sent to victims of the earthquake, especially donations of aid, as well as money for relief and recovery.

From 8pm till late that night, over RMB33, 000 was raised in funds from about 100 members of the local expat community, which will be directly used by these local groups on the ground helping in the relief effort.

Further donations, especially in cash, are still welcomed by the groups organizing aid on behalf of the local expat community. Items that can be still donated and are currently being sourced for donation include: non-perishable food items, basic medicines, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, stretchers, small power-generators, small water sanitation equipment, and simple housing materials for immediate relief aid.

Following this initial relief efforts, the local expat community in Chengdu is committed to helping our fellow residents in the medium to longer-term community recovery efforts that will be undertaken in Sichuan.

Anyone interested in becoming involved, making donations or finding out further information on relief and recovery efforts can contact the Bookworm on (+86) 028 85520177.

by Peter Nisbet

Source: Chengdu Weekly news