Conejo group continues tsunami relief effort

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

The Conejo Compassion Coalition, formed in January to help with tsunami relief efforts in Southeast Asia, is continuing its fundraising and awareness efforts. Made up of members of local churches and organizations, the coalition has seen its numbers decrease, but there is still a core group of volunteers meeting to help survivors of the monumental natural disaster.

"We have some really dedicated, hard-working people who are keeping this going, and I think we’re going to be able to do some great things," said Coalition Coordinator Bob Bland.

The group has already held several successful events and has another event planned for next month. A benefit family concert and ice cream social is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fri., June 3 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 1550 El Monte Drive, Thousand Oaks. Local musical groups scheduled to perform include the Sweet Adelines, the Simi Valley Youth Bell Choir and Westlake High School’s "A Class Act." Tickets are $12.50 each or $25 per family. Sponsored by the coalition and St. Patrick’s, as well as St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church and Conejo Valley Congregational Church, proceeds will benefit the Children of Joy Orphanage in Sri Lanka.

The orphanage is a primary focus of the coalition. Children of Joy is a ministry supported by Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara. The group is in the process of obtaining a building in Sri Lanka that it plans to convert into an orphanage for children whose parents were killed by the tsunami as well as a community outreach center for educational and nutritional programs.

Bland is hoping to travel to Sri Lanka in July with a group of volunteers, including local college students, to help establish the orphanage.

"We will need to do some construction and cleaning to get the orphanage operational," Bland said.

The coalition has also held a candlelight vigil and participated in CROP Walk. Its most recent fundraiser involved selling tickets to a Conejo Players production. The effort raised $475, which was sent to the YMCA in Sri Lanka to be used to help tsunami-affected families.

"In the circumstances, in our work with the affected people in the coastal belt of our country . . . your donation was firstly a means of fulfilling an urgent and desperate need of a devastated person and a means for us to alleviate their trauma," wrote YMCA National General Secretary Chrisantha Hettiaratchi in a thank-you letter to the coalition.

The coalition’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tues., May 17 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. The public is welcome.

For concert tickets and more information, please call (805) 495-6441.