yorkregion.com
May 31, 2008

$10,000 for disaster victims

Richmond Hill is reaching out to victims of disasters on the other side of the world.

The town has donated $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross for relief efforts for victims of the cyclone that hit Myanmar and the earthquake-ravaged Chinese province of Sichuan.

Richmond Hill politicians offered condolences to residents whose family and friends were affected by the natural disasters and encouraged residents to support relief efforts during a May 26 meeting.

The cash comes from the council contingency fund, used in past to support disaster relief efforts such as the 2004 tsunami.

Cyclone Nargis swept across southern Myanmar on May 2, killing thousands and impacting 2.4 million people.

Many of those still need food, shelter, clean water and protection from disease.

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit May 12 and Chinese officials now say the death toll could exceed 80,000.

Donations can be made to the Canadian Red Cross at www.redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111 or by mailing a cheque to Red Cross, Ontario Zone, 5700 Cancross Court, Mississauga, ON, L5R 3E9.

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