Local Pakistani Flood Relief Group raises funds for flood victims

By Lauren Byrnes
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Aug 24, 2010 @ 12:00 AM
Members of the Pakistan Flood Relief Group collected a “small mountain of clothing” at the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland on Sunday for the victims of the recent flooding in that country.

Hudson resident Yasmin Khan, one of eight organizers, said the clothing collection went “very well.”

Organizers began collecting clothing two weeks prior to Sunday’s clothing drive, Khan said. Clothing was also collected at other Islamic centers in Quincy, Sharon and North Smithfield, R.I.

Despite Ramadan observances, Jamila Khalil, a member of the relief group and the Pakistan Association of Greater Boston, wants to spread the word about the need for aid in flood-ravaged Pakistan. Because Pakistan has been “basically branded as a terrorist country,” people are less likely to help those in need, she said.

“I think we have to put out the image that there are human beings suffering (there) that aren’t involved in extremist organizations,” Khalil said. “It’s a humanitarian crisis.”

Khan, who serves as secretary of the Pakistan Association of Greater Boston and the Pakistan Flood Relief Group, said she expects the clothing to be sent this week to flood victims.

Forty to 50 volunteers assisted in collecting, organizing and packing the clothing for delivery. While most volunteers were fasting in observance of Ramadan, “the enthusiasm was there,” Khan said.

Clothing collected Sunday will be shipped at no cost by Pakistani International Airlines, Khan said. But clothing collected in future drives will not be shipped immediately because so much is already awaiting shipment, Khalil said.

Now, medicine and food are needed, Khalil said.

Plans for more fundraisers and collections are already in the works. Khan said volunteers hope to collect medicine, non-perishable food and candles. A drive could be held as early as next week, “as soon as we get the clothes out of the way.”

“We don’t want to delay it too much,” Khan said. “The need is now.”

In addition to Sunday’s clothing drive, the flood relief group also raised about $40,000 for the flood victims at an Aug. 13 fundraising dinner in Wayland, which was attended by about 300 people.

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