Local Groups Helping With Relief Efforts in China

Yue Li's two sisters live just 100 miles from the center of the earthquake that hit China's Sichuan Province. Li was excited when he got the news they were OK.

"Sorta relieved," remarks Li.  "But I still want to know what happened to other people and their property."

That's why Li is supporting the Birmingham Chinese Association's effort to reach out to the people of China who've lost their lives, been injured, or left homeless.

"We can't go such a far distance or go to the site to help the people rescue them,"  says Li.  "I think this is the only way we can show our passion to the people suffering by raising money for them."

The Birmingham Chinese Association and other China-related organizations in Birmingham will hold several fundraisers this weekend to help those affected by the disastrous quake.

"We want to reach out and give someone some water, something to eat or comfort someone that has lost a loved one," says Allan Staib, the Vice President of the Birmingham Chinese Association.  "We can't do that from here but what we can do is collect money and see that the money is used in a way that'll directly help people."

"We can not get back what they lost,"  commented Leda Summer, the Association's President.  "But we can relieve them by giving them something to make their life a little bit better."

You can help, too.  Send donations to: