Fast feast raises tidy sum for Pakistani relief

Organizers put together dinner for 350 in eight days; $110,000 donated to flood victims

EDMONTON – Some $110,000 was raised Saturday at a dinner for Pakistani flood victims by a group of friends who arranged the event in eight days.

“Word spread like wildfire among our friends when we decided to stage an event to help the 21 million people who have been affected by the disaster,” says Shamim Amiri, one of the group leaders.

“There was a sense of urgency. We wanted to take advantage of the Canadian government’s promise to match donations made by Sept. 12.”

The idea came about last week at a regular Saturday meeting in the wealth-management office of Amiri and her husband Iqbal Amiri when ongoing support of various charities was on the agenda.

“Many of us are originally from Pakistan and like everyone, have been appalled by the news that 1,760 people have been killed and eight million people remain reliant on aid handouts to survive six weeks after monsoon rains caused the flooding.”

The group quickly realized their friends wanted to help and a large venue would be needed.

Karima Suleman offered the Edmonton Convention Centre on 76th Avenue at 50th Street, which his family owns.

Azim Kanji and Gurinder Hazrah, who own the downtown Haweli restaurant, said they’d donate a feast, no matter how many guests attended.

Organizers Jamshed Khaliqdina; Karim Gillani; Dolly Bandali; Kharrum Huda; Rahim Hamani; Tabrez Awadia; Bahdur Ali Sajwani and Jafer Sajwani spread word of the dinner.

“Everyone from engineers and IT people to musicians and store owners offered their help,” said Iqbal Amiri. “We had lots of help in quickly putting together a video of the disaster.”

via Fast feast raises tidy sum for Pakistani relief.