Members of Albion's city and college communities enjoyed a rare opportunity to eat Thai food together, as a college/community coalition sponsored a fundraising dinner on Feb. 16.  The event brought 250 diners to Albion’s First United Methodist Church, and raised funds toward disaster relief in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.

"We raised over $1,250 from the event and money is still coming in from shirt sales," says Travis Wallis, one of the event organizers.  "The dinner it was not only a great benefit monetarily, but also educated a lot of people about how they can help, and how we are helping. I am very happy with the success and it was well worth all the work!"

Albion College junior Sayun Allen says that the dinner idea came in part from his uncle’s reports of conditions in Thailand. “My uncles lives only 30 miles away from where the tsunami hit … it was so devastating,” says Allen. “The people living there need so many resources, and with the campus involved, we can help out, at least a little bit.”

Allen shared his uncle's stories with his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers, who worked with the College's Asian Awareness Group and Student Volunteer Bureau and Albion First United Methodist Church to provide dinner to nearly 300 people.  Two authentic Thai dishes were cooked by students, under the supervision of Allen’s mother, Amphai Uthrouboon, a native of Thailand.

Proceeds from the dinner are going to Church World Service, and will be used to purchase everything from emergency medical supplies, to soap and cleaning products and supplies for schools destroyed in the tsunami.