Suburban woman starts fundraiser for Nepal friends
A Libertyville woman who was in Nepal during the catastrophic earthquake last month is now spearheading a fundraiser to provide supplies for the Nepalese guides she met during her trip.
Alexandra Gaulin and a group of her travel photography friends are seeking monetary donations to a Go Fund Me account so they can buy supplies like tents, medications, water filters, flashlights and disinfectants, which they'll ship directly to the guides they know. She believes it's the most efficient way to get them help.
Gaulin, who works for Lake County Animal Control, was in the Kathmandu airport when the earthquake hit, on her way home from a two-week photography trip through Nepal and India. She's been in communication via Facebook with the guides she met, and they've described total devastation. One told her "we lost everything."
"They were our travel guides throughout the duration of our expedition, who you must know are the kindest, most selfless people in great need of relief," she said on her fundraising page. "We have correspondence with them and will be able to confirm that these supplies get to them appropriately."
To donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/nepalreliefchicago.
Gaulin plans to post Facebook updates on Nepal Relief (Chicago) so donors can see the donated items being used.
The earthquake killed more than 7,200 people in Nepal, destroyed at least 300,000 homes, and devastated the poverty-stricken country, according to reports.