On April 25, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck Nepal near Kathmandu, also affecting nearby parts of India. Avalanches were reported in the Himalayas, including on Mount Everest. The official death toll has surpassed 5.000 and will grow as search and rescue efforts continue.
While there are no St. Thomas students currently in Nepal, 18 Nepalese graduate students are studying at St. Thomas this semester.
There are a number of ways members of the St. Thomas community can show their support for Nepal:
Wear red, white and blue on Friday, May 1.
The colors of the Nepalese flag are red, white and blue. Show solidarity with Nepal by wearing these colors Friday, May 1.
Attend a candlelight vigil at the capitol on Wednesday, April 29.
The Association of Nepalis in Minnesota is holding a candlelight vigil on the upper mall at the Minnesota State Capitol (75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in St. Paul) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. More event information is listed here.
Attend the interfaith candlelight prayer service at St. Thomas Thursday, April 30.
Campus Ministry will host a short interfaith candlelight prayer service at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, on the lower quad, to pray for all who are impacted by last weekend’s earthquake and the ongoing disaster in Nepal. Rain site: Campus Way, Anderson Student Center, second floor.
The service will include some silence and an opportunity to contribute to relief efforts. All are welcome.
Make a monetary donation.
The following two associations are accepting monetary donations:
- The Association of Nepalis in Minnesota is collecting money to send to the Red Cross Nepal and other relief agencies for the humanitarian efforts in Nepal. ANMN is a 501(c)(3) organization, which is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Payments can be made online or by check via mail at: ANMN Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund 2015, c/o Dadin Pandey, 207 1st Ave SE, New Brighton, MN 55112.
- Catholic Relief Services: payments can be made online to support humanitarian efforts in Nepal.
Donations can be made in person in Campus Way on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the following days: Thursday, April 30; Friday, May 1; Monday, May 4; and Tuesday, May 5.
For more information contact International Student Services.
