A number of American and European expatriates residing in Qatar have come forward to donate clothes and other items to help those afflicted by the recent tornado in Oklahoma.
The collection of donations of new or used clothes, blankets, pillows, footwear and bedding started yesterday afternoon at the Doha Rugby Club and will continue today, between 3pm and 5pm.
The drive is organised by Theresa Backus Dunn, executive director at the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar), who wanted to take speedy action to deliver help to those in urgent need in Oklahoma.
Dunn appreciated the quick and practical responses of companies such as ConocoPhillips, which donated around 1,000 T-shirts, Radisson Blu Doha, which donated various items of linens and trousers, DHL for taking over the delivery and shipment process to the US and Doha Rugby Club for providing free storage area for the campaign.
Dunn revealed that the idea for the campaign came from her friend Edward McAlpin, who has been working as a fire and rescue trainer for many years in Qatar.
“They would practically need every thing and any practical help would ease their sufferings. So the things which might be of no importance to us could ease their lives,” McAlpin pointed out.
Dunn said that so far around 50 boxes of various donated items had been collected and hoped to receive more today. She expected the boxes to be in the US by Monday through DHL express delivery for immediate distribution to the victims.
Fred Evas, a Dutch expatriate, “felt happy” when donating two big boxes filled with various clothes items. He said that he remembered how people many years ago in his village in Holland hurried to help his family when his house was destroyed in a fire when he was only 11 years old.
“People helped us with almost everything they have and that was great at the time. And being in Qatar with all the charitable work going on here, it inspires us to be proud in supporting those in need,” said Evas.
Similarly, Paul Hunt, a board member of the Doha Rugby Club, saw that Qatar had been taking the lead in various charitable works around the world and this had been greatly inspiring to help those afflicted back home in Oklahoma City.
“Sports help us get together and being able to help others in a practical way gives a positive feeling of fulfilment,” he commented.
Howard Bevan, chairman of Doha Rugby Club, stressed that the initiative was welcomed by the club as a constructive community activity. Dunn hoped that more donations would be received today.
http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/353857/expatriates-in-donation-drive-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims
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