Relief Efforts for Pakistani Flood Victims
Amongst the Pakistan flood relief efforts in Southern California, the Chohan family’s fundraising stands out amid the rest.
The Chohans own a clothing factory that they decided to convert into a center for donations and volunteers in light of the recent flooding in Pakistan. Over one fifth of <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/severe_flooding_in_pakistan.html">Pakistan is under water</a>, and millions are homeless. Almost 2,000 people are dead. The floods have affected more people than Hurricaine Katrina, the Haiti earthquake and the Tsunami of 2004 combined.
Sadia Chohan is a 20-year-old college student who gave her father the idea of hosting a clothing drive at their factory.
“A lot of organizations weren’t collecting clothes or food, they just wanted money. And people weren’t really either willing to donate money, but they had all this stuff they wanted to buy and give themselves, and we decided, 'Well, we have a warehouse, may as well use it for something beneficial,'” said Chohan.
Internet and text messages spread the word about Chohan’s plan within hours.
“I only expected 20 or 30 friends to come. I threw this up on Facebook and got 800 people offering to help.”
Chohan planned on a fundraiser that would only last a few days, but the support of the community caused the drive to last for weeks. In fact, the Chohans sent four containers full of clothes and medical supplies in two weeks: twice the amount they are used to shipping. On their first day of fundraising, they collected 100,000 pounds of clothing.
“With 20 million people, you can’t clothe enough of them,” said Nadia Chohan, Sadia’s older sister who also helped organize the fundraiser.
Some volunteers were fasting for Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, but that did not deter their desire to help.
“I don’t think 20 million people would care how you’re helping, as long as you’re helping,” said Faheen Dyala, a volunteer.
The Chohans were surprised to receive requests for school supplies on top of clothing and medical supplies. Nadia Chohan explained that students felt a sense of normalcy if they were able to study since all else was lost to them.
The floods have destroyed so much, but not the hope of those who are tying to make a difference.
