Rev. Ray Benn opened the service and offered many words of wisdom in the wake of this tragedy as he read a couple of scriptures to the crowd.
"I think as human beings, we are wired to care," he said. "This did not only happen to a community, it is global."
Amanda Smith, representative of the American Red Cross (Claiborne County Division) spoke along side Captain Joe Irvin of the Middlesboro Salvation Army in explaining ways their organizations are helping relief efforts and how others could help too.
The American Red Cross announced last week that a massive relief plan for all those affected by the tsunamis would require an estimated $400 million to respond to both immediate and long-term needs now and for years to come.
Smith touched on some of phases of the plan including getting food, safe water, healthcare, the prevention of disease, immediate family supplies, mental health counseling, and disaster preparedness and prevention measures.
The Salvation Army is also playing a major role in efforts and is expecting the goverment to ask the Army to reestablish two villages on the southernmost tip of India.
According to Captain Irvin, the biggest need in most coastal areas around the Indian Ocean, is the help in restoring the fishing industry to its place as the principal means of earning a living throughout the regions affected by the tsunami. This includes restoring fishing boats, purchasing new equipment and supplies that was lost and more.
"It is devastating to see first hand and hear those hand accounts of this event," said Irvin. "It's good that we can gather together and set our own thoughts to help those who need it. We are family."
To find out how you can help make a donation, you can visit the Red Cross website, www.redcross.org and the Salvation Army website, www.salvationarmy.org.
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