Global Relief expands efforts, plans aid dinner

Hayley Tsukayama Staff Writer

Global Relief, formerly the Tsunami Relief Task Force, is continuing and expanding its charitable efforts this year. “We’ve mostly been focusing on Hurricane Katrina so far,” said Global Relief group member Dilkushi Poovendran ’07. “But we’ve also done a little bit with the earthquake in Pakistan.”

The organization planned a New Orleans-themed dinner for Dec. 7, featuring catered food like jambalaya from the Great Foods company and entertainment by four displaced jazz musicians from New Orleans. Poovendran said that the dinner was meant to “highlight the culture of New Orleans,” beyond the common associations of Mardi Gras and “crazy people.” The musicians, clarinetist Evan Christopher, guitarist Davy Mooney, drummer Martin Urbach and bassist Mark Anderson, were “really excited and honored” to play for this event, according to Global Relief member Sarah Weston ’07.

Weston found the musicians, who are generally living in the New York area, through the
Jazz Foundation, a group dedicated to helping all jazz musicians in need.

Proceeds from the dinner will go to the The People's Hurricane Relief Fund & Oversight
Coalition, a grassroots organization that is currently focusing on helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Money will also be given to the Common Ground Health Clinic, based in Algiers, Louisiana.

Started by former Black Panther Malik Rahim just days after the Hurricane, the center is now looking to “become a permanent clinic,” according to Weston.

“They’re a temporary clinic right now, and they also have a kitchen in the Lower Ninth Ward [of New Orleans],” said Weston. Tickets for the event were $11, which included dinner and two sets from the New Orleans musicians.

Raising money for Katrina victims and organizing this dinner was Global Relief’s main focus for the year so far, but now they will most likely turn to concentrating on relief efforts for those affected by the Pakistani earthquake, according to Poovendran.

“Everyone is thinking that the earthquake is like the tsunami,” said Poovendran. “But what people forget is that Pakistan has winters like we do and lots of people are still homeless there.”

Last year, the Tsunami Relief Task Force raised enough money in conjunction with the AidLanka charity to help fund the building of a pre-school in Sri Lanka. According to Poovendran, while there have been some problems with building the school, construction is now back on schedule.

“While they [those constructing the school] were clearing the land, they found artifacts, and so the site of the school had to be moved,” Poovendran said. She added that workers are now continuing construction and the school is expected to open next January. Once this project is completed, Global Relief hopes to continue to provide aid in the community beyond Vassar.