JOINING HANDS TO HELP NEPAL

To express solidarity with our Nepali brothers and sisters, the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society hosted a dinner to raise funds for the victims of the earthquakes that hit Nepal on April 25 (magnitude 7.8) and May 12, 2015 (magnitude 7.3).

The dinner was held at the Bayanihan Community Centre on May 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the option to eat in or take out. The dinner cost $15 per person and all funds raised were donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

On May 21, 2015, the amount of $5,042.50 was handed to Phyllis Argue, Manager for Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives of the Canadian Red Cross at the Victoria Branch office of the Canadian Red Cross.

Many patrons offered more than the cost of the meal to add to the funds collected.

Real Canadian Wholesale gave a gift certificate and Mike Gonzalez of the Old Spaghetti Factory donated chicken to help defray the expenses.

Kevin Lee, a BC Ferry Union officer who helped in Haiyan fundraiser, donated crabs which raised over $300 as volunteers eagerly bid on them.

The board of directors of the Bayanihan decided to do this fundraising to give back after the tremendous show of generosity from the Victoria community when typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2013. People around the world responded swiftly and relief operations, financial aid, medical services were immediately deployed.

The April 25 earthquake in Nepal caused tremendous loss of life and property in Nepal. The destruction of heritage sites is immeasurable and the economic impact to clean up, rebuild and restore is heavy.

Dibya Shrestra, who was visiting her mother in Nepal at the time of the first earthquake, shared photos during the dinner of Nepal before the earthquake and extended her gratitude on behalf of the Nepalese. She helped prepare and serve the food along with the numerous volunteers from the community.