All of us in the Shanghai expatriate community have been following the tsunami disaster news with great interest and concern, and some of our number were actually caught up in the disaster in Thailand, Sri Lanka or Malaysia. We are aware that Phil Neame, a teacher at Yew Chung International School lost his life in Thailand, and his wife, Jan Buchanan, was injured and is recovering in Australia. The Yew Chung community is grieving this loss and making counseling available to students and faculty during this time.

There are still Shanghai expatriates missing and there may be other deaths as well.

If you have information or seek information about anyone in the expatriate community who is yet unaccounted for, please call Supt. Tom Ulmet of YCIS, chairman of the Shanghai International Schools Association who is serving as the point person for the Tsunami Disaster Rumour Control Centre: 6209-1512.

River of Hearts is collecting summer weight clothing to ship to tsunami victims in Indonesia. Through a special arrangement with the government of Indonesia, clothing donated to River of Hearts will be shipped free of charge to Indonesia. Clothing should be new or clean used clothing in good condition. Call 5031-0390 to arrange for dropping clothing. Or go to the Community Center website, www.communitycenter.cn, under Programs/River of Hearts to see drop-off locations in Pudong and Puxi. River of Hearts is also collecting funds to be used on the ground in rehabilitation during the coming months.

Call 5031-0390 for more information.