The flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas may no longer be headline news on the international news channels, but as the waters continue to rise so does the number of people forced to evacuate their homes.
Pattaya has been first choice of relocation for many victims of the floods and hotels were seeing room occupancy that is usually seen only in the height of the peak season.
One of more than two hundred people now living at the Father Ray Foundation, and more are expected.
However, there are many who cannot afford hotels, who have no relatives to offer them shelter and who are living with a disability and need full time care.
There are more than two hundred underprivileged children and people with disabilities, accompanied by their families, who are now living at the Father Ray Foundation.
At the Vocational School for People with Disabilities half the classrooms have been turned into dormitories, leaving the school short of space when the students arrived back for the beginning of the new school term.
On the advice of City Hall, local businesses recently got together to show the flood victims that they are not forgotten. Pattaya Cookery School, Katesiri Beauty School and the Sai Sam Massage School joined many other local companies to provide free haircuts, massages, tae-kwondo exhibition, food, drink and an afternoon of entertainment.
Her home may be flooded, but she still knows how to have a good time.
The number of people leaving Bangkok is expected to keep rising as the water continues to travel south, and the Father Ray Foundation will continue to stand by its mission to ‘never turn a needy child away’.
During the SOS Rice Appeal 2011, which takes place from November the 18th to December 5th, you can help the Father Ray Foundation feed the children, students with disabilities and flood victims by buying and donating a bag of rice at all major supermarkets in Pattaya.
The martial artists give a great show of skill and artistry.
The lovely ladies from the Pattaya Cookery School make sure no one goes hungry.
Workers form Sai Sam Massage School make sure everyone is calm and relaxed.
