The crowd gathered for last weekend's tsunami relief dinner included Rep. Richie Sanders, left, with his wife Leslie and their daughter. They are talking to Lisa Perkins near the serving table.

Thursday, January 27, 2005

More than $13,450 was raised for the Habitat for Humanity of Sri Lanka and Indonesia at a dinner last Saturday in Franklin.

The dinner, which included a combination of foods from the foreign lands and Kentucky cuisine, was held as a fundraiser for the vicitims of the Tsunami which struck on Dec. 26, 2004.

The earthquake and tidal wave killed at least 150,000 people, injured 500,000 more and left millions homeless in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

About 150 people attended the fundraising dinner at the First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. Franklin resident, Lali Abeydeera of Sri Lanka, gave a presentation about his native homeland and Margaret Crowder talked about how tsunamis form and strike.

Event organizer Woon Yen Prall said that the $13,450 which was raised included three people who donated $1,600 each to build three tranisitonal Habitat Houses in Sri Lanka.

Students at Simpson Elementary School and the F-S Middel School are conducting additional fund raisers to add to the funds.

“It was wonderful to see how this effort brought together so many different people and groups within and outside the community of Simpson County.” Ms. Prall said, “Everyone left dinner with images of south east Asia, the smell and taste of their food and a sense of solidarity. It was most heartwarming and inspiring to see children coming forth voluntarily to be a part of this effort of helping others.”