April 2005

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Tsunami relief update

[Editor's note: Click here to view pictures of the families receiving the boats and other equipment purchased with the One Boat at a Time funds.]

Letter to the editor of the Gettysburg Times

Dear Editor,

Not much more than a month ago, the Interfaith Center for Peace & Justice kicked off the One Boat at a Time effort to aid Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, spearheaded by former Sri Lankan resident Professor Raj Ramanathapillai and in cooperation with the Gettysburg College Center for Public Service.  The response has been phenomenal, including over 100 private donations and public fundraisers ranging from Professor Kazuo’s auction of a fossil artifact and various concerts at the Ragged Edge coffee shop, to penny wars bringing in over $1800 at Lincoln Elementary School. 

On behalf of the Interfaith Center for Peace & Justice, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our community for the phenomenal outpouring of donations.  Our goal was to raise $15,000 to purchase and outfit 4 boats for fishing families in the hard-hit Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka, where more than 1,000 died and some 37,000 families were displaced.  Due to incredible community response, we have actually raised close to $28,000, enough to purchase 8 boats, twice our original goal.   In keeping with the interfaith nature of our group, these boats will be distributed among Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian families. Distribution and family screening is being handled on-site in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Trincomalee.  

Since we began this fundraiser, we have also learned that in keeping with day and night fishing schedules, each boat is actually shared between 4 families. Therefore, this amazingly generous support from our community will help restore self-sufficiency to 32 Sri Lankan families. 

Again, our most heartfelt thanks for this astounding community support. 

Denise Weldon-Siviy
2005 Chair,
Interfaith Center for Peace & Justice

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