This guest post was written by Mona Weiss from Eco Nuts. Mona and her fiance, Scott Shields, pitched in the Shark Tank during season four. Their products are harvested and produced in Nepal, which recently suffered from devastating earthquakes. Mona is spearheading a fundraising effort to bring relief to the suffering citizens of Nepal.
Eco Nuts appeared on Season 4 of Shark Tank, and we were featured with our berries that naturally make soap and can be used for laundry. We have a line of different laundry and cleaning products, and while we employ several full time and part-time staff here in the US, we also have an extended team we work with overseas. It was touched on in our Shark Tank presentation that the berries come from the Himalayas, but specifically we work with multiple people and companies in Kathmandu, Nepal where there was a devastating 7.8 earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks leaving many houses in ruins. We want to help in as many ways as possible.
Donate to our fundraiser
The companies we work with employ over 200 people in Kathmandu, and they are now trying to supply basic needs to their staff and their families, including shelter, food, water, and medicine. So far six people who are among those who work to supply us with goods have lost their homes. Two people we still have not heard from yet, but we are hopeful. One of our supplier’s factories is currently being used as a shelter.
We want to help provide support to our extended “Eco Nuts” family in Nepal to get them whatever they need.
We have set up a GoFundMe page in order to collect funds for them. All funds will be sent directly to our contacts in the area to use for food, supplies, shelter, and other urgent needs. Any leftover funds will go toward rebuilding houses for the people who lost their homes.
Your prayers and support are much appreciated. We will provide updates on how funds are being used on our company’s Facebook page.
But that’s not all. We urge our customers to please continue giving to established relief/aid organizations in Nepal. Donating through our campaign is not tax deductible and there are many organizations helping in different ways, and all are important.
Donate to nonprofits
Some charities that are on the ground providing help are:
The Nepal Red Cross Society is providing first aid, search and rescue, blood to medical facilities and support to first responders. Here is its online donation link.
CARE is providing temporary shelter, ready-to-eat meals, water purification and latrine construction. You can learn more about their relief plans or go directly to their donation page to help.
Handicap International is providing wheelchairs and assistance to local hospitals which are overwhelmed. The organization is focused on making sure survivors receive the care they need to avoid developing permanent disabilities. You can go online to directly support their Nepal Earthquake Response.
UNICEF is working with the government and other partners to meet children’s immediate needs in water and sanitation, protection, health and nutrition. You can help by donating online.
Global Giving has created a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to immediately help both local Nepalese nonprofits and international aid organizations. Supporters can donate online or text GIVE NEPAL to 80088 to donate $10.
Team Rubicon Has a team of surgeons and medical staff on the ground in Nepal doing rescue medical work. You can help by donating online.
Purchase Eco Nuts products
A portion of every sale goes directly to Nepal and gives people a steady income stream to support their families. Long term, giving people a job and way to support themselves is extremely vital towards getting people back on their feet and back to normalcy. We’ve already heard from them that they are anxious to go back to work and hope to be up and running as soon as the dust settles.
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