Nearly 8,000 miles from Nepal, the impact of Saturday's devastating earthquake is being felt in the Quad Cities.
On Monday, April 27, 2015, more than 100 people gathered at Davenport's Vander Veer Park for a candlelight vigil to remember the more than 4,000 victims and raise money for relief.
Kiran Basnet was among the many attendees with family members living in Nepal. He said his parents are now living outside in heavy rain after the earthquake damaged their home.
"They are safe, but very scared. And they are very old, so for myself, it's a very scary moment right now," said Basnet.
Like many at Monday's vigil, Basnet was shocked by the news of the 7.8-magnitude quake.
"That's my motherland, you know? I was born there," he said.
The Quad Cities Nepalese Society has already raised more than $15,000 in aid. The group is sending a volunteer to Nepal later this week, along with a team of doctors and nurses to help with rescue and recovery efforts. QCNS is also planning to ship 1,000 tents to Nepal, so that families can sleep inside during cold and rainy nights.
"We are overwhelmed by the fact that the Quad City community has come forward," said Rad Pandit. "Whenever we see somebody coming in and visiting us, we make a phone call and we pass that on to Nepal, to our brothers and sisters in Nepal. It means a lot to us."
Donations can still be made to the Quad Cities Nepalese Society, a registered nonprofit. Checks should be made out to QCNS and mailed to 5772 New Castle Lane, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722.
You can also donate online by going here.