Wakefield South Asia Earthquake Appeal
Wakefield Council is asking the community to help identify a specific area in Pakistan to benefit from the district’s fundraising efforts.
Council Leader Cllr Peter Box wants to focus on a Pakistan community to contribute to its reconstruction. There is also a possibility of developing long-term twinning links.
After the October 2005 earthquake, Wakefield Council donated £10,000 through the British Red Cross towards the relief effort.
Over the last few weeks the Council has worked closely with the South Asian community to coordinate local support.
Clothes, tents and blankets have been donated at nine Wakefield Collection Centres and four deliveries have been sent to Kashmir.
Cllr Box said: “It is encouraging to see an active co-operation between the Council and the community over the last few months to raise funds for the relief and construction effort. We are now working together to look at helping the region in the longer-term.
“The money which is being raised will directly help a local community in Kashmir where schools, medical facilities and community infra-structure are all badly needed. We would like to see Wakefield twinned with a particular community in order to focus our efforts and appeal funds.”
By the end of January 2006 the Wakefield Asian Welfare Association had raised over £5,000 in a special appeal account. The Council’s appeal account has raised £6,250 through collections from Council services, employees who donated instead of sending Christmas cards, and the public.
Proceeds from the Next Generation Community Youth Project’s ‘Fast for Peace’, Wakefield Rotary Club’s collection at the annual Bonfire event, Sandal Manga Junior and Infant Parent and Toddler Group’s Cultural Event for Women and a Council staff Christmas event organised by Cllr Peter Loosemore were all added to the funds.
Fund-raising efforts are continuing for the foreseeable future, including in all Wakefield schools. A Charity Dinner is also being planned for March.
Please donate to either WMDC South Asia Earthquake Appeal at the Co-operative Bank, Sort Code 089020 AC No 61513390 or WAWA (Wakefield Asian Welfare Association) T/A Pakistan Earthquake Appeal, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sort Code 16-33-27, Account No 10150667 Charity No. 4499060 .
For further information on the appeal contact Nasim Aslam at the Council’s Cohesion Team on 01924 305735 or cohesion@wakefield.gov.uk
From City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
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