Couple's quick response pays off

by Melianie Carswell

Source: The Glebe, Thursday, 20 January 2005

There's generosity and then there's generosity. Jeff and Alina Gambin certainly belong in the second category.

The Rozelle couple, known for feeding Sydney's homeless for more than a decade through Just Enough Faith, have spearheaded an aid program for the 95,000 misplaced people of Ampara, Sri Lanka, whose homes were lost in the Boxing Day tsunami.

More than four tonnes of aid - collected solely from their Rozelle office - have already reached their families in need. But that's just for starters.

The couple, together with a growing number of supporters, have adopted the area as their own and plan to lend a hand for the next three to five years.

A team of local volunteers - including a doctor, helicopter pilot, school teacher and Qantas pilot - is preparing to visit the devastated region.

"We have a lot of volnteers here [at Just Enough Faith] from that part of the world and Jeff himself was born in northern India," Ms Gambin said.

"When this exploded onto our TV screens, we decided we needed to do something, and we were in a position to do something quickly."

The couple has a correspondent on site, currently working for the United Nations, who has been updating them on what is needed.

"Having our own people on the ground keeping us abreast of what is happening is the key. We are being told about the situation all the time. And we know the money and everything we send is going direct to the people."

The first shipment of clothing and household items has reached Sri Lanka, thanks to a Singaport Airlines flight.

Ms Gambin said the challenge was to transport collected aid.

"We now have a contact with Singapore Airlines to get goods distributed," she said.

"We were told not to send food because they can source that over there. We sent everything from tarps to school bags, clothing, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

"Right now we are concentrating on things like women's personal hygiene products, underwear, but not second-hand goods."

The organisation has also just sent containers of children's toys to help with the healing process.

But needs are constantly changing.

"We are seeking the suport of local businesses who can be involved to contact us and check what the present needs are," Ms Gambin said.

"We particularly need storage in the local area while we are sorting things out. Every able and capable person in the world today has an obligation to do something."

The Just Enough Faith tsunami program is being run together with the Sai Youth group. People wanting to contribute should visit Just Enough Faith's website www.justenoughfaith.org or contact the Gambins on 9818 8988 or email justenoughfaithmbox.com.au
 

Aid from Rozelle has already reached this camp set up for tsunami refugees.

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