With so many urgent needs, it's difficult to know how best to support the surviving earthquake victims of Nepal.
But a Port Moody-based organization that built a school in Nepal and has contacts there says it's better to send money to reputable organizations rather than collect donated items or fly off to help because you'll just get in the way.
Port Moody man off to Nepal with rescue group
"The best thing to do is to go the experts right in the area," said Megin Alvarez, who, with her partner Malcolm Trevena, founded Meaningful Volunteer (meaningfulvolunteer.org).
The organization's goal is to provide targeted, effective support for under-served communities and the group recently built a solar-powered school that teaches literacy and computer education to children and adults in the rural parish of Rithepani in western Nepal.
From this experience, the couple has contacts and friends there, as well as memories of visiting in the now quake-devastated country. When they heard of Saturday's earthquake, they were overwhelmed, Alvarez said.
"They're like family," she said, a feeling she said many people are experiencing as they watch the news feed of dead bodies, destroyed buildings, hungry people and families living outside.
Alvarez said people tend to get emotional in situations like this and want to help. "Right now, they're asking for prayers," she said of the Nepalese.
But some practical items are also needed, such as temporary housing. To that end, Trevena and Alvarez are encouraging people to support a crowdsourced fundraising campaign for a Nepalese group to build tents. As of Tuesday, the group (using life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/earthquake-nepal-accommodation-medical-camps) had already obtained enough materials for 25 large tents and was heading for the quake-struck rural Gorkha district along with a dozen local volunteers and a group of doctors.
Trevena and Alvarez say they know the people involved and trust them.
"When you move in this type of world, you meet a lot of corrupt people, unfortunately," Trevena said. "These are people we know and people our friends know. It tends to be these small organizations that have the biggest impact.
St. Catherine's Anglican and Trinity United churches in Port Coquitlam (2211 Prairie Ave.) will host a non-denominational candlelight service for the Nepalese earthquake victims on Sunday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Cash donations will be accepted. Call 604-942-9812 for more information.
