Local relief headed to Asia, A team of Valley residents is headed to Sri Lanka to provide medical relief

One of the largest natural disasters in history has left many people wondering what they can do to help, and locally, people are making a difference.

The tsunami that rocked Asia on Dec. 26 has claimed the lives of more than 110,000 and left a region in despair. Locally, there are several people who are organizing relief work, and a few who are traveling to the area to help.

A team of 11 Alaskans are heading to Sri Lanka to help provide medical relief. The group, headed up by Crossroads Community Church and Church on the Rock locally, includes medical professionals from around Southcentral Alaska, including several from the Valley.

"It's something that has always been in the background at Crossroads, doing work like this, and it seemed like something we should do now," said Kathy Conn. "Last Tuesday, our pastor asked if this is something we should do, and everybody agreed we needed to."

The Alaska contingent heading to Sri Lanka includes Wade Erickson and his wife, Heather, Geoff Barry, Elowyn Smith, Roger Hughes, John Clark, Don Cunningham, Mark Sebens, Kristin Smith, Butch Killian and Rosie Buben. They cover a wide range of professions in the medical fields, from pediatricians to physician assistants.

"They will all have to be self-sufficient and carry their medical supplies with them wherever they go," Conn said.

Getting the team organized has been quite a challenge, Conn said. With such a short turnaround time, getting passports lined up included opening the Willow post office on New Year's Day and people hand-carrying passport information to Seattle on Monday morning.

The group is scheduled to leave early Friday morning.

Those interested in donating to help cover medical costs can do so by calling Crossroads Community Church at 745-6701. Funds are going to be wired to those providing medical relief.

Conn said there is a possibility of more people joining the relief work overseas.

Another area of concern for those in Asia is nutrition, and one local woman is part of a national movement in providing meals. Adrian Moran is a self-employed mother who is affiliated with the NuSkin Corporation. Through the Nourish the Children program, an affiliate of the NuSkin Corporation, bags of VitaMeal are being sent to Sri Lanka and 11 other affected countries, thanks to donations from around the country. Moran has been working hard to drum up local support.

"VitaMeal is a bag of food, that is religiously and culturally kosher, that makes a fortified meal when water is added," Moran explained. "One bag can make 30 meals for children."

Moran said her company takes care of all administrative costs, including transporting the meals and distributing them, making every donation go to providing food.

"Last week we shipped 120,000 meals to Sri Lanka as part of a 100-hour campaign around the country," Moran explained. "Now we are targeting Sri Lanka and 11 other countries that need help."

Nourish the Children is partnered with Feed the Children, Moran said, but they are not the same organization -- but both are working to provide food and relief to those in Asia.

Those interested in helping provide meals can call Moran at 357-5123.