Students Aim to Raise Funds for Pakistan Relief Efforts
September 02, 2010 - News Release
The University of Guelph Muslim Students Association and the Muslim Society of Guelph hope to bring attention and aid to the people affected by devastating floods in Pakistan.
The two groups will host a fundraising dinner Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Guelph’s Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, 683 Woolwich St. The event will include talks by local politicians and a motivational speaker, as well as an opportunity to make donations.
“Our goal is to raise $20,000 from the event and further donations,” said Ahad Manzoor, a third-year business student at U of G who is helping to organize the event.
Like many of those involved in setting up the event, Manzoor has family in Pakistan, where monsoon floods have had an impact on 20 million people.
“I have two brothers over there,” he said. “They aren’t living in the areas that are now under water, but they are still affected. When one-fifth of a country is under water, it affects everyone living in that country."
Manzoor is frustrated by the lack of attention the disaster has received from the media and hopes this fundraiser will raise more awareness.
“This is not a small disaster. The number of people affected is more than the number affected by hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami (in Thailand) combined. It’s a disaster that may not seem close to home, but it is. There is a huge Pakistani population in Canada with family over there.”
With the money raised, the two groups are planning to make up boxes filled with water bottles, blankets, first-aid kits and other supplies essential for survival.
“When you send money, it doesn’t always go where it needs to go, and it has to go through so many hands before it reaches those in need,” he said. “Plus, the people affected by the floods don’t need money; they need water and food and blankets.”
If they reach their goal, Manzoor says the organizers will be able to make 1,000 boxes to send over by the end of the month, as well as a monetary donation.
Tickets for the fundraising dinner can be purchased in advance by sending email to muhammed.sayyed@gmail.com.
For those who are unable to attend the event, the organizers have set up an account that will accept donations until the end of September: www.guelphmsa.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982 or d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.
