As the death toll steadily rises in the aftermath of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that devastated southwest China’s Sichuan province, the outpouring of support from Atlanta’s Chinese community has also climbed.  

Chinese state media is reporting more than 50,000 confirmed dead in the worst earthquake to hit the country since 1976.

The epicenter of the quake was northwest of Sichuan’s capital, Chengdu, a city of nearly 12 million people with considerable cultural ties to Atlanta.

Rescue workers have joined military contingents in affected areas, moving debris and searching for survivors, as those who have lost loved ones cope with their grief and solemnly handle the affairs of their dead.

Shortly after news of the quake’s destruction, some 14 Chinese groups in Atlanta united to form a fundraising coalition, the Atlanta China Earthquake Fund Drive Committee.  

Through donation drives at Zoo Atlanta, China Town and various supermarkets as well as direct donations in the form of checks from their members, the organizations have raised a combined total of more than $120,000 for the relief effort, according to a May 21 e-mail from Frank Zhou, president of the Chinese Business Association of Atlanta.  

The National Association of Chinese-Americans is transforming its May 24 annual meeting into a fundraising event at Sydney’s Buffet in Duluth on Saturday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m.  NACA will provide lunch, and members and guests are expected to donate to the relief fund.

NACA plans to donate its own organizational funds, plus match all donations received from its members, said Lani Wong, NACA’s chair. To RSVP for the lunch, e-mail Ms. Wong at laniwong@bellsouth.net or call her at (770) 394-6542.

The lunch will be the beginning of a long effort by Atlanta Chinese to help restore Sichuan communities.

“This will be a continued relief effort. The longer plan is to help the rebuilding of the area,” Ms. Wong told GlobalAtlanta a few days after the earthquake. “We just have to raise as much money as quickly as possible,” she said.

Organizations forming the committee include: the Association of Chinese Professionals, Atlanta Chinese Writing Association, Atlanta Contemporary Chinese Academy, Atlanta Hunan Association, Atlanta Sichuan-Chongqing Association, Atlanta Sun Yat-Sen University Alumni Association, Chinese Business Association of Atlanta, DongBeiRen Association, Hubei Fellows Association, Morning Star Chinese School, National Association of Chinese-Americans, Shandong Chinese Association, Shandong University Alumni Association and Zhejiang Association.

Those who cannot attend the luncheon may send a check for "China Earthquake Relief Donation” payable to the National Association of Chinese-Americans to 5483 Redbark Way, Atlanta, Ga., 30338.

Donations may also be sent to NACA-China Earthquake Relief Funds, Account # 0150001519, at Century Security Bank, 5955 State Bridge Road, Suite 100, Duluth, Ga., 30097.