charity in china

I'm beginning to realize that while I am posting inconsequential posts about my love affair with street food, people are wondering how the earthquake near Chengdu has effected me.

From the perspective of daily life, not much. Things are going on in Shenzhen as per usual and there is little evidence of the disaster that has destroyed so much to the North-West of us.

My colleagues are convinced that they felt the tremors just as people did all the way in Beijing. It's possible, but I can't say that I did. I had no knowledge of what had happened until I received an email from my friend asking, ARE YOU ALRIGHT??? So, to those who are curious, yes, I am. I'm fine.

This tragedy has brought about one thing that I had not seen before in Shenzhen. Suddenly, all the charities that I have spent this year searching for in vain have been coming out of the woodwork, collecting donations and such.

I don't know where they hide themselves. A month ago I was talking with Kathy over lunch about bake sales and fund-raisers that all American children grow up with. She was lamenting the fact that she had no way of helping the people who are less fortunate than she is.

Now there seem to be many opportunities. And I think that is one positive thing to come out of a terrible disaster.



For further reading:

- China Law Blog: China's Earthquake: How You Can Help
- Danwei: Earthquake Relief: Donate via SMS?


UPDATE: Dan Harris over at China Law Blog just pointed me to an even more comprehensive source of charities: China Earthquake Donation Guide:24+ Ways to give (Cn Reviews). Thanks, Dan.

A 2nd UPDATE: I was just walking from class when I passed a stand collecting second-hand clothes for the earthquake victims. Yet another example of an opportunity to help that has popped up out of nowhere.