The tsunami that struck Southeast Asia over the holidays is proving that aid is not limited to government intervention or measured in billions of dollars. It is often most meaningful when given in small amounts raised by those that empathize with the victims.
That fact was evident on Monday morning, Jan. 3, at the Anadolla Restaurant, 650 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, when a check for $555.50 was presented to Julia Wright, executive director, Alexandria Chapter, American Red Cross, by restaurant owner, Reza Sanjideh, and manager, Yalda Nazarian, to aid victims of the catastrophe.
"The big motivation was my wife. Her birthday is Dec. 31 and she was deeply touched and saddened by what happened over there even though we do not have any relatives in that area," Sanjideh said.
As a result, Sanjideh decided to donate 100 percent of one day's receipts of the newly opened restaurant to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. Since the establishment is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. that amount usually only totals about $100 to $150, according to Nazarian.
"But, we called everyone we knew and told them what we were doing. We even had a sign made for the restaurant announcing that all proceeds that day were going to go to the Red Cross to help the tsunami victims. That's why the business was so much more," Nazarian said.
EVEN THE SIGN in the restaurant announcing the event was donated to them from "Signs By Tomorrow," according to Nazarian.
"I called all my relatives, my mother, my sisters, my cousins and all my friends to come here to eat that day," she said.
In accepting the check, Wright said, "This is really moving. And it's magnified by the fact that they encouraged so many others to give. We will send this money on to the International Response Fund set up by the International Red Cross."
Contributions to the American Red Cross International Response Fund enable the organization to help those affected by this crisis, according to Wright. "The American Red Cross does not have the capacity to accept or collect in-kind donations in times of disaster," according to its literature.
Monetary donations allow them "to purchase items in the [affected] region" — "eliminating the added cost of shipment." Instructions to its local chapters also point out, "Cash ensures the acquisition of culturally appropriate goods and helps stimulate local economies."
As of Dec. 31, the Red Cross announced that an initial $30 million in aid was en route to those areas hit by the tsunami. To donate:
* via phone: 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
* via on-line: donate securely at www.redcross.org
* via mail: mail contributions to your local chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The Alexandria chapter's address is 123 N. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314.