A boat and trash sit in the front parking lot of a church after a tsunami caused a great amount of structural damage to the island and its villages Oct. 1, 2009, in Pago Pago, American Samoa . (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
Yana Kulinich | Staff Writer
Posted: Oct. 5, 6:10 p.m.
Updated: Oct. 6, 1:05 a.m.
A deadly tsunami that hit the Samoas last Tuesday has led to a relief effort organized by Samoan City College students and the Polynesian Club, some of whom had family members directly affected by the tragedy.
City College student Numera Siona was at a loss of words when he received a text message from his cousin last Tuesday, informing him that a tsunami had hit the islands.
Through e-mail, Siona, who also heads the City College Polynesian Club, was able to find out his aunt and cousins were doing well and moving toward higher ground, but was not able to receive word about his other family members in Western Samoa.
According to Siona, in efforts to help, the Polynesian Club gave all its proceeds from a recent barbecue fundraiser to the Samoa cause. The club also plans to inform students on how they can help with the Samoan relief effort at their club meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“All I ask for… is for people all around the city, you know, just pray,” Siona said. “Prayer will do us a lot right now.”
Those interested can learn more about assisting the relief effort through donations of money, water or clothing at http://www.samoanchristianfellowship.org.
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