Death Toll Exceeds 162,000
Noelle Shumer/Outlook Reporter
noelle_shumer@pipeline.owens.edu

Many people will remember where they were when they received the news that the greatest earthquake in forty years had struck the coast of Indonesia on December 26, 2004, triggering a deadly tsunami onto the coastal countries. In Southeast Asia, young and old alike were fear stricken and running for their lives from Mother Nature’s greatest disaster. Meanwhile, people on the western side of the world were still in the holiday spirit, perhaps relaxing with family, or maybe standing in line at the mall to return a gift.
According to reports, the tsunami has left at least 162,000 dead from the countries of Somalia to Sumatra. Almost immediately, volunteers gathered together to bring some relief to Asia. Local relief organizations have been established so that everyone can take part in helping. Waterville’s relief organization, International Services of Hope/Impact are accepting monetary donations and collecting canned food and rice to send overseas. They are also seeking volunteers to help organize and ship the containers to Sri Lanka. Donations can be dropped off daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m at 905 Farnsworth in Waterville. ISOH/Impact plans to pack containers with canned food to send to Asia.
In addition, the Red Cross is working fervently to help the tsunami victims by accepting donations and/or volunteers. Log on to www.redcross.org for more information, or to securely donate a specific amount.
Though not each and every person can travel across the seas to assist those in great need, everyone can do his or her part to bring relief to a desperate nation.

Back