Everyone in Nepal has a story of legitimate need, everyone has a story of loss.  No combination of governments or aid agencies could possibly fix Nepal in anything approaching a reasonable time frame:  The damage is just too vast.  Still, it doesn’t mean we should just give up.  People are coming to us from every angle and we do our best to help as many as we can.  It’s about casting the widest net possible at this point, so we’re inclined to take people at their word when they come to our door.

We have sent truckloads of materials out into the field just on the strength of someone’s word alone.   Sure, we’ll write up an agreement letter, but there are no effective methods of enforcing such documents in Nepal so the gesture is mostly symbolic.  Our agreements are often built on nothing but trust and are bound by a simple handshake.

The most we ask for is photo documentation verifying that the donation has been used as expected.  To date, we have received photo verification of proper fund usage on  %100 percent of these transactions.   Trust is a wonderful thing–it can also cut down the paperwork.

Volunteer Booth Teeters met Ashut on his inbound flight to Kathmandu.  Booth and Ashut exchanged contact information and to date, the two of them have delivered metal sheeting for 55 families in Apchaur, Melamchi, Sindhupalchowk.  Sheeting for another 75 families is on order, and Booth is helping to reconstruct the local school near Sallei, one hour below Apchaur.

Navraj makes an agreement for the fair and equitable distribution of metal sheeting with a Ward representative from Jethal VDC.  Jim counts out Rupees for Sunil K.C. for survival packet assembly and distribution near Banepa.

Lal Man Karki from tiny Chipledunga village in Kavre district approached us in person and we responded.  He loaded 30 bags of rice on the roof of a public bus and villagers met his shipment at the bus stop and portered the rice by foot to the village.