SRW Donation drive...Taylorsville City Hall

Some of the many volunteers that came out to lend a helping hand.
A supportive community.
Donations came in by the truck loads...
Donations from Day 1
We were blessed with the beautiful sounds of the Maile family and friends.
The week immediately following the Tsunami that devastated our Samoa's and Niuatoputapu,Tonga many members of the Pacific Islander community of Utah decided that they would take action. Together they would fill three 52 foot trailers of aid that were sent via us army aircraft. The week was long and rewarding. Volunteers were gathered each morning before 6am and soon after the donations would arrive by the truck loads. As the week went on the feeling of love only grew stronger. What an awesome thing it was to see people of all walks of life join together in service for people less fortunate then themselves. When plans for the Tsunami Relief Donation Drive first began, I don't think any of us had any idea what we were up for nor did we realize how rewarding it would be to serve others. The week was truly amazing. And when the trucks were ready to leave the spirit of love was felt so strongly. A special bond and such fond memories were shared between many of the volunteers that gave so freely of themselves to help their people back home.

Tsunami.......September 29, 2009

Samoa under water...

This was once a place of worship.
The local hospital.

Tuesday September 29, 2009 at approximately 6:50 a.m local time, American Samoa, Samoa and Niuatoputapu, Tonga felt the trembling of a powerful earthquake measuring up to 8.3 on the Richter scale. It took just minutes for the first tsunami surge to reach the southern coast of Tutuila.

The first wave swept through Pago Pago harbor and was followed by two more waves. In Samoa and Niuatoputapu the earth also trembled and the large over powering waves crashed down on not only our islands, but on homes, schools, churches, stores and our beloved people. Over 60 villages were affected. For many villagers there wasn't enough time to move to higher grounds and escape the waves which reached up to 20 feet high and a mile inland in some parts.

On that fateful day whole villages were ravaged and completely wiped out. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends were lost. So many lives were taken by the sea and thousands more left homeless and seeking refuge. On this day Pacific Islanders around the world felt the heartbreak and cries from our people back home and united in a worldwide effort to rebuild our beautiful islands.