Red Cross receives largest tsunami donation

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 1, 2005

It’s been months since the deadly tsunamis ravaged the shores and lives of Southeast Asia.

But last week, the Suffolk chapter of the American Red Cross received its single largest donation-$10,147-earmarked for tsunami victims from the congregation of Oakland Christian Church in Chuckatuck.

To date, the local organization has sent $80,000 to help rebuild the lives devastated in the natural disaster, said spokeswoman Donna Perry.

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&uot;It’s a wonderful and generous gesture by the Oakland congregation,&uot; she said.

&uot;It just shows the type of people we have in Suffolk.

&uot;The Bible says ‘ask and you shall receive,’&uot; she said. &uot;I ask every day and…every day, the people of Suffolk do what is necessary to come to the aid of their fellow man.

&uot;It never ceases to amaze me.&uot;

Oakland’s pastor, the Rev. Mark Burns, said his congregation approached him looking for ways to help shortly after the Dec. 26 disaster.

Although a couple of church members penned checks for upwards of $1,000, most contributed smaller amounts during special offerings held in recent weeks, he said.

&uot;It’s been coming in bit by bit over the past three months,&uot; Burns said.

His congregation wanted to help the tsunami victims move ahead with their lives.

&uot;They care,&uot; Burns said. &uot;All this came about because good Suffolk mothers and fathers reared their kids to care for other people.

&uot;…I’m proud to be pastor of a church that cares not just for people’s souls but for people’s lives.&uot;

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com