District 31 donates to local quake relief fund

District 31, Mongolia and the Republic of China (Taiwan), donated US$45,000 in earthquake relief funds to help needy families and students who suffered from a September tremor, which destroyed many homes in several eastern towns in Taiwan.

District Governor Li-Chin Lin, on behalf of all Taiwanese Zontians, donated the funds at Yuli Town in the eastern county of Hualian on 12 December. The Zonta delegates were Lt. Governor Diane Cheng, District Service Committee Chair Lily Chien, past governor May Wen, Club of Hualian President Sylvia Chiou, and other district committee chairs. 

Most of the donated funds (US$40,000) will help 60 Yuli families whose livelihoods plunged into difficulties after their homes collapsed or were severely damaged in the 18 September quake. Yuli Town was the worst hit.

The remaining US$5,000 were donated to the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families Yuli office to subsidize the studies of 16 children from needy homes.

Governor Lin said District 31 will continue to finance the schooling of the 16 students as long as it takes while monitoring the urgent needs of other children in Yuli.

Photo: Governor Li-Chin Lin (second from the right) presents a check equivalent to US$5,000 to Ching-shan Chien (right), director of the Yuli office of the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. From left: Club of Hualian President Sylvia Chiou and District Service Chair Lily Chien.