While senior citizens in Charlotte are making crafts and baked goods, local businesses and places of worship are urging others to donate money - and it's all for the same cause.
Area residents and businesses still are contributing to the hundreds of millions of dollars the United States has sent to victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and southern Africa.
Members of the Islamic Center of Greater Lansing, 920 S. Harrison Ave., donated almost $10,000 in one night to aid the disaster victims, Asad Khan, president of the center said.
"Since we are more fortunate, we pitch in," Khan said.
He said the members generously gave after hearing one announcement at Friday's service. About 400 to 500 people attended.
"We believe (the tsunami) is from God," he said. "He has his own reasons to do things and, human beings are helpless in this."
In addition to the $10,000 collected Friday, Khan said the center held a bake sale and other fund-raisers that made about $500.
Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, an Asian American sorority, is asking restaurants on Grand River Avenue to give part of Thursday night's sales to the American Red Cross for tsunami victims.
"We have a lot of sisters nationwide and at MSU that do have family over there in all the affected countries, said Brady Harris, an interdisciplinary studies in social science junior. "It's hitting us close to home, so we just want to help."
So far Rice Kitchen, 551 E. Grand River Ave., has agreed to participate, Harris said.
Rice Kitchen will donate 5 percent of its sales from 5 to 8 p.m. - the restaurant's busiest time, owner Jack Fong said.
"It is part of our duty as a human beings to do whatever we can do to help other people," Fong said.
The Eaton Area Senior Center in Charlotte is holding a craft and bake sale to earn money for tsunami victims.
The sale is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 28 at the center, and will include "homemade treasures" such as sweatshirts and knickknacks created by members, Director Nancy Harvey said.
Two Lansing branches of the Financial Health Credit Union, 715 Curtis St. in Mason and 1200 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, are collecting money through Friday to send to the American Red Cross for tsunami victims, said Kris Hodges, cash services coordinator at the Curtis St. branch.
"Some people aren't going to call a telethon, or they want to give but they just don't know where to give," Hodges said. "So we're hoping this will generate some people who want to give but wouldn't necessarily know where to do that at."
