Eyes of Expression: Volunteering for Flood Relief at Chula

Sandbags line the shops in my neighborhood...

After class today, I went to Chula with a few classmates to help package supplies for flood victims.  Unlike the Red Cross, which had an abundance of volunteers and specific schedules of shipments, Chula was a giant warehouse full of supplies and in dire need of volunteers.  

Phoo and I pausing for a picture with all the stuffed rucksacks in the background!

Like I mentioned in my earlier volunteering efforts with the Red Cross – it amazes me how a language barrier can almost disappear, just for a moment, in a time of crisis.  Students eagerly grabbed our hands, pointed to various piles of supplies, handed us plastic bags and said “Help.”  For the first two hours, we “waterproofed” medical kits – by wrapping them in plastic bags and securing them with rubber bands.  Every group of volunteers in the room was focused on preparing one item – whether it was packing soup cans together, weighing rice, or counting life jackets.  After successfully packing 16 large boxes of over 1,000 medical kits, we then rearranged the entire gymnasium so that each pile of goods was laid out in one section.  Volunteers then were given a rucksack and went around the room, taking one item from each pile, and placing it into the bag.  It was amazing all the goods that went into one bag – food, water, large bags of rice and canned goods, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, medical kits, a pack of playing cards, etc.  It was also amazing how quick that rucksack got heavy!

Successful waterproofing of medical kits with all my classmates!

The Thai Navy was there to load all of the rucksacks onto a massive flatbed truck, and as soon as one truck was loaded, it immediately left for distribution.  As we were leaving, I noticed there was a section outside around the corner where people were also bringing rucksacks.  I was a little confused why they were going somewhere else besides the flatbed trucks with hunky men in uniform, so I nosily decided to get closer to see what this special side unit was for…

What I failed to realize, is that while Chula was at the forefront of sending supplies to those affected by the floods, it was also denoted as one of the main campsites for refugees from the floods.  Flood victims are taken to this gymnasium for housing, supplies, and a hot meal, after everything they had has been taken away from them.  I cannot begin to describe the emotions that these people wore.  While it is painful to watch the news and reports on TV, I was not prepared to see these flood victims face to face.  I caught the glance of one mother’s eyes and the pain, sadness and desolation of everything, I could see it all right there in her exhausted, defeated face.  I was so upset; I looked straight at the floor and could feel my face flush with embarrassment.

I cannot get her face out of my mind.  I cannot imagine losing everything.

Evacuation Site in Bangkok