Chinese Christian Ministries Urge for Donation for Sichuan Reconstruction

Dec 04, 2008 01:54 PM EST

To continue the Sichuan post-earthquake reconstruction efforts, two Chinese Christian organizations held a press conference to urge the general public among the Chinese community to donate towards ensuring the frontline workers, children, and elderly in Sichuan will have a warm winter time.

Since the magnitude 8 earthquake that struck Sichuan on May 12, earlier this year, killing over 70,000 people, Cultural Regeneration Research Society (Worldwide) Foundation and Chinese Christian Missions initiated a fund-raising campaign, urging the Chinese churches and general public throughout Vancouver to donate, and they’ve raised 1.1 million CAD. All of which was used for the Sichuan post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

On Nov. 28, CRRS and CCM held a press conference to share their latest reconstruction plans for post-earthquake Sichuan. CRRS director Benjamin Li, CCM Vancouver branch director Angela Kan, and the liaison director stationed in Sichuan Rev. Stephen Leung gave an overview of their work in overseeing the reconstruction planning. The three major areas of work are to support the widows and orphans, to rebuild their education facilities, and to provide mental health counseling.

Furthermore, to help those living in the disaster areas prepare for winter, the two ministries are calling for donations towards the “A Winter Coat per Person” fund-raising campaign. The temperature in Sichuan now averages at 3 degree Celsius and -9.3 degree Celsius in some areas. According reports by weather forecasters, Sichuan will face a very severe winter, where the temperature can drop to as low as -20 degree Celsius. For those who will live in the post-earthquake temporary housing, blankets and clothes will be an absolute necessity.

CRRS (Worldwide) Foundation staffs visited and stayed in Sichuan for about two months. During their stay, they saw how the children and elderly were in need of winter clothing, so they’ve purchased 1,500 winter coats. The current request is to purchase 1,500 more winter coats for the frontline workers stationed in 11 towns throughout Wenchuan County and those living in three other impoverished areas. To donate or inquire of more information, please call 604-435-5486 or 604-877-8606.

Donations can be deposited into CRRS (Worldwide) Foundation’s bank account:

HSBC Hong Kong Bank of China

Donation Account Name: CRRS (Worldwide) Foundation

Donation Account Number: 730-193322-082

Memo: Sichuan Earthquake