I work at a restaurant where 90% of the kitchen staff is Sri Lankan. One of the sous chefs lost eleven people in his family alone from the Tsunami. A prep chef lost his whole property. It is not an excuse to ignore something because it is so far away or because it seemingly does not effect you, but this disaster is effecting everyone. Some of the members of the kitchen staff are walking the streets outside of the restaurant during their free time to collect donations and this is happening all over the city and the country and all over the world. Donate or volunteer to collect donations. Write letters to your political reps and urge them to send relief or more relief.
I want to commend Mayor of Toronto, David Miller for his efforts in this painful time. He has made people in Toronto really feel empowered and ambitious to help those in need. "Miller urged residents to donate all they could. 'Torontonians have family and loved ones in every affected country,' he said. 'But even those without a direct connection to their disaster want to and need to help.'"
full story
Miller is not only sending money, but he wants to send people.
"Calling on workers like paramedics and water experts to volunteer their skills, Miller said the city will send them where it's deemed necessary by the federal government, whose members should soon be returning from the afflicted areas.
The city's emergency management office — normally activated to respond to local crises like the blackout two summers ago and the SARS outbreak in the spring of 2003 — will be in charge of coordinating the effort, he said.
'We know how to rebuild water systems. We know how to get public health nurses to people on the ground. And I think the best use of our resources, including money, is to ensure we get as much of that expertise as possible to the affected communities to build a sustainable recovery,' Miller said."
The Toronto Star
While critics argue that sending people will only cost more than just sending cold, hard cash, it is so wonderful to see people waiting by the phone desperate to get over there to help...hands on. Rumour has it that David might be itching to go over there himself.
To donate, Canadians can contact:
Canadian Red Cross, toll-free at 1-800-418-1111
redcross.ca
UNICEF Canada at 1-877-955-3111
unicef.org
Oxfam Canada at 1-800-GO-OXFAM
oxfam.ca
Canadian Tamil Congress at 1-416-751-8777
ctconline.ca/default.asp
Canadian Relief Organization for Peace in Sri Lanka at 1-416-429-2822
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto at 416-631-5705
