Chinese donate their newfound wealth after quake

In the week since the quake, donations have totaled $1.3 billion — 85 percent raised within China, the Xinhua News Agency said Sunday, citing the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

With living standards soaring with the economy's spectacular performance in recent years, a new group of rich Chinese are expressing interest in philanthropy. The ministry's China Charity Information Center projects that private foundations will overtake the government and aid and activist groups to become the country's main source of charity in five years.

Private cars swarmed so thickly on roads that police set up donation drop-off points outside cities and towns to clear the way for military and government convoys. People living in tent camps beside cracked, debris-swept roads posted handwritten signs asking for urgently needed items — water, rice, vegetables. Cars paused to hand out a box or two and then drove on.

Blood donation centers were overwhelmed with offers and began asking citizens to register in advance.
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very glad to see how people responded to the disaster.people are so eager to help and they go out of their way to do so.

wow I am so impressed, its so good to know that people have helped those that need it. A heart warming post.
m x

In the first days it was so crowded in the banks, that I saw a lady crying because she stood in the line for more than 4 hours and still couldn't donate anything. I understand her helpless feeling

image source: http://img1.qq.com/news/pics/10552/10552759.jpg


image source: http://img1.qq.com/news/pics/10554/10554950.jpg


image source: http://img1.qq.com/news/pics/10534/10534517.jpg


image source: http://img1.qq.com/news/pics/10542/10542213.jpg


For everyone's information, for many the average salary is like 600-800 RMB only, some even less....

[edit on 20/5/08 by IchiNiSan]

[edit on 20/5/08 by IchiNiSan]

It's nice to see stories like these come out of a tragedy. These people came out in droves to support and help their fellow countryman. Restores a little bit of faith in humanity.

[edit on 20-5-2008 by Ocelot]