Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news from Alabama, USA.
On April 27, an unprecedented number of up to 100 different tornadoes tore through six southern states, claiming hundreds of lives. At the epicenter of the disasters was Alabama, where 236 fatalities – more than half of the overall toll – were reported, and another 1,700 people were injured or missing.

An estimated 13,000 people were affected in the Tuscaloosa area alone, where 5,000 properties were damaged or destroyed. Conveying her heartfelt sympathies and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately donated US$20,000 for urgent needs on April 27, asking that our nearby Association members please go to aid the most vulnerable.

Combined with donations from our Association members, the total contributions amount to US$20,700.
Our Association’s relief team from Georgia, USA visited the hard-hit areas of Tuscaloosa and Fultondale, near Birmingham.

Relief recipient, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA (M): I ran into the house and told my brother and his girlfriend, and I told her to get her dog. And we all ran into the bathroom, and got in the tub and we were all sitting there just praying. And by the time I knew it – tore everything up everything was just damaged, destroyed. It was terrifying. Only thing I know, I’m happy to be alive, blessed.

VOICE: Going to the affected neighborhoods, our Association members distributed 800 bags containing personal hygiene items, vegan snacks and drinks, as well as SOS flyers on the vegan solution to disasters.
The relief team also gave a total of US$700 in financial aid in cases of special need. They also delivered additional supplies of water, food, sanitary items, and baby diapers to the Red Cross and other local relief centers, and gave US$1,000 to the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter to support their animal companion disaster relief efforts. The recipients expressed their gratefulness for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s comforting love and assistance.

Relief recipient, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA (F): Thank you so much!

VOICE: We thank the regional Red Cross and other personnel working to assist the disaster-stricken. Our thankfulness also for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s unconditional aid, and for the selfless endeavors of our Association’s relief team. With Heaven’s grace, may the people of Alabama swiftly recover the regularity of their daily lives as humanity’s kinder actions help lessen such damaging events as these.