Expanding the community of Lowell into Cambodia

Expanding the community of Lowell into Cambodia

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.com

UPDATED:   01/23/2016 

LOWELL -- Two city-based initiatives are holding fundraisers this month to benefit those in need in Cambodia.

A new group, the Phnom Dangrek Foundation, is made of several Lowell members and others to help tens of thousands of former Cambodian refugees who still largely live in poverty. The foundation, which became a legal non-profit last November, focuses on the rural Dangrek Mountains, where many refugee camps were established during the Khmer Rouge years several decades ago.

Even today, "60,000 are still living desperately in those areas," said Lowell's Nareth Muong, a spokesman for the foundation. "They still need a lot of help.

The foundation's kick-off fundraiser is set for Saturday night, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at the Sampao Meas Hall at 450 Chelmsford St. Tickets are $30 each, and the event includes dinner.

A fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30. will benefit Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and a sister hospital of Lowell General Hospital.

Lowell resident Veasna Sok, who was born in a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand, and her family started holding annual fundraisers two years ago to benefit Sihanouk. They want to give back to their home country as best they can, she said.

"It started out with just our family," she said. "It's become such a big community event now."

The last two fundraisers have brought about $10,000 in total, helping the hospital train staff or offer free medical care, Sok said.

They're hoping for a crowd of about 450 on Jan. 30, and to be able to raise about another $10,000.

The fundraiser, which includes dinner and raffles, will be held at Pailin City restaurant at 6 Branch St. from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door.

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