Fundraiser attracts young humanitarian

He's only 4-years-old, but Dilan Rocan wants to help people in Haiti.

"He went into his piggy bank and got his five dollars. He's actually never taken money out of his piggy bank, this is something very special for him to make a donation for this cause," said Devi Rocan, Dilan's Mom.

He made the donation at a Haiti Relief Fundraiser at the Hindu Temple on St. Anne's Road Saturday. Throughout the day, about 1,000 people came and ate free food supplied by four local Indian restaurants; all they asked for was donations.

The Hindu Society of Manitoba’s goal was to raise $25,000. By noon, they had just over $6,000. Two hours later, that jumped again to $12,000.

"Their situation was bad before the earthquake and now it's worse," said Jean-Joseph Isme.

He's from Haiti and has relatives in Port Au Prince, the hardest hit by the quake. The clean up is far from over, and he says hundreds are still homeless, searching for food and shelter, just trying to survive.

"For the Hindu community to organize something for Haiti that's amazing," he says.

"I think we'll have to be raising more years to come. There's a lot of destruction there and it's not going to be a short term solution that's for sure," said Carlos Mota. He came to enjoy Indian food and help Haiti.

But 4-year-old Dilan made the biggest impact here. Not so much in the amount of his donation, but in his desire to help, even at such a young age.

The fundraiser runs until 8 p.m. Saturday, at the Hindu Temple at 999 St. Anne's Road.