Cooking for Tsunami Victims in India

Urgh! I wanted to post this last night, but, for some reason, my Internet Access was down the entire night (so much for cable broadband!). I hope there is still time, and that some of you will donate generously…

I’ve received an email from Devagi Sanmugam (a well-known chef in Singapore) making an urgent appeal for cash donations for a food relief program that she is personally undertaking for some of the tsunami victims in India.

I reproduce her email below:

Hi,

A few of us are planning to leave on Sunday 2 Jan 2026 for India to give/cook food rations for the victims of Tsunami. We're paying for our own air fare and we have made arrangements for our accommodation too.

As you'd have seen on TV lotsa people and children are suffering from lack of food and clothes. I know that there are many organisations out there helping by collecting money, clothings etc.

I appeal to you to contribute some money so that we can buy the basic long lasting necessities like milk, biscuits, bread etc for these victims. If possible we want to pitch a tent to cook them a few meals. I think food is very important to all of us and we have plenty of it here. I do want to help them in someway and I know you too feel that you want to help. Perhaps you don't have the time to leave your work and responsibilities to go there to help. I want us all to start the new year by feeling that we have helped the less fortunate in some way.

Please either give me cash or make a cheque payable to "Devagi Sanmugam" and post it to
Devagi Sanmugam
52 Jalan Leban
Singapore 577589

Please also include your name and address so that I can send you the accounts. What I am planning to do is to get the amount collected from everyone audited and when I return with the receipts, we will have it audited and send you a copy. Rest assured, this is a service to mankind, the money you give wholeheartedly will be used for the Tsunami victims ONLY.

You can help further by collecting from your friends and colleagues and sending a lump sum cheque along with the list of people and the amount you have collected from them so that I can keep them updated of how their money was spent.
I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.

I have attached a profile of myself in case you need to introduce me to your friends. I have also attached a Donations Record sheet that you can fill up and send the cheque with it by Sunday 2nd January 2005.
God be with you.

I wish you a prosperous NEW YEAR .

................your culinary services provider
Devagi Sanmugam
Devagi's Epicurean World Pte Ltd
52 Jalan Leban
Singapore 577589

Tel: 6458 0572 6456 3014
Fax: 6457 3650

So, if you feel you would like to or are able to contribute in any small way (even if just to put the word out), please help. We only have 3 days before they leave.

(I want to just add a small note to her email. It would be best not to send cash by post. If you wish to give cash, please call Devagi and make arrangements to pass her the cash.)

If you would like a copy of Devagi’s profile or the donation form (both are word documents), please send me an email or drop a note in the comments box together with your email address, and I’ll have copies sent out to you.

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Another email appeal that I have received, and which I feel is authentic, lists several other avenues for contributing to the relief effort.

These are just a few of the many organizations in Singapore that are currently coordinating collections for the victims in the various countries:

Tisarana Buddhist Association at 90 Duku Rd (off still road) Tel: 63456741

Items: Medicine, first aid items, sanitary pads, toothbrush, toothpaste, tin food, dry food and CLEAN (new if possible) blankets, towels and clothes.

Please pack them in bags or boxes and lable them separately, eg... Food, Blankets, Medicine, Clothes to be seperated and labeled MALE, FEMALE and CHILDREN. Boxes are preferred but please do NOT seal.

19 Dalhousie Lane ( jus behind Tekka Mall )

Collection of essentials ie .... foods, clothes, blankets, towels .... any day before next Wednesday for Sri Lankan victims.

Old Parliament Lane #01-02 , Parliament Lane,
Olivia - Tel: 81131770

Donations of canned food, blankets and clothings.

Donations of Cash: Brahm Education Centre

Cash donations are collected at Brahm Education Centre. Cheques are to be made payable to "Brahm Education Centre Ltd".
Cash or cheque are to be sent to Brahm Education Centre, 9 Lor 29 Geylang #04-02 Singapore 388065. Please indicate "suffering relief program" on the back of the cheque.
Receipts of items purchased for the victims with the cash donations will be collated and accounts on how the funds are dispensed will be available for inspection at the end of the project.

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The situation in Aceh, Indonesia (which bore the brunt of both the earthquake and tsunami) is very, very dire. Over 40,000 (and still counting) are dead. Entire towns have been wiped out. The survivors have no shelter, and have had no food or water for four days. They have yet to receive any aid.

I believe the Indonesian Embassy is still asking for, needing and wanting donations of blankets, milk powder, disposal syringes, canned food, towels and such like, and are accepting the contributions at their Embassy at Chatsworth Road.

On the other hand, I think the Sri Lankan Embassy is no longer accepting donations in kind, as what have been received thusfar are already being sent. Cash donations are still being accepted though.

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Finally, Juliette Rossant of SuperChefBlog left a comment in the previous post about the her post on participating in relief efforts. Please go take a look.

And if you have not already found it, there is also this site.

Let us all do our part, no matter how small, to help ease the suffering a little.

Thank you.