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Carmel Man Raising Money For Afghan Orphans
CARMEL, Calif., 2:06 p.m. PST December 11, 2001 - A Carmel businessman who owns a store selling Afghan merchandise is leading a group of peninsula residents who are trying to raise money for orphans in Afghanistan.
More than two decades of conflict and civil war has created thousands of orphans in the country, and unrest in the country has made it difficult for aid to reach the children.
Peterson Conway said that food, blankets and clothing are in short supply in Afghanistan.
"It's a dangerous time now in Afghanistan -- not just because of the war, but because of the winter," Conway said. When I was a peace corps volunteer, more than 30 years ago, I used to play soccer and volleyball with these kids."
Conway said he fell in love with Afghanistan during a trip in college.
"These children have nothing," Conway said. "The civilian population is facing such tremendous deprivation for the winter, it's unbelievable."
Conway's store sells Afghan rugs and antique Afghan rifles. He said conflict is, unfortunately, a common thread in the country's history.
"These are the saddest pages in Afghanistan history," Conway said. "Since the Russian invasion in 1979, they've had 22 years of unprecedented war."
Conway is scheduled to visit the country after Christmas. He said that he will buy supplies in Pakistan or Afghanistan as a way to help the local economy.
"We would go there under our own steam and expense," Conway said. "So, there'd be no overheat taken out. So, if we get a donation for $25 or $25,000, every penny will go into food, blankets, shelter and eventually building their well."
To contribute, checks made out to PARSA, a humanitarian organization dedicated to rebuilding Afghanistan, can be mailed to Conway's store:
Conway Of Asia P.O. Box 55 Carmel, CA 93921
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