Barbara Lawlor, Nederand. Although everyone in their family lost their homes in last week’s earthquake in Nepal, Resham Gurung and Lok Malla are grateful that their relatives survived the devastation.

On Saturday, April 25, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful since 1934, killed up to 7,500 people in Nepal. Victims could reach 10,000. Entire villages were flattened in many districts of the country, including Dhading Katunje Ghormu and Dhading Mairoti Ukhubari, where Resham and Lok’s families lost their homes.

Kathmandu Restaurant in Nederland and have recently purchased another restaurant in Boulder. As the news of the earthquake reached them, they spread the word among their friends and neighbors in the mountains that hundreds of thousands of people were without homes and needed shelter, tents, and sleeping bags.

When they were able to contact relatives, they heard that there was nothing left of their homes, that everything had been destroyed. Only five percent of the village houses were still standing. Lok’s father is 75 and his mother is 72 and they are living in the streets in front of the rubble of their home with a makeshift roof over their heads. Food is hard to find and the people are sharing rice cooked in a large pot over a fire. They drink water from the creek.

Resham’s mother, Aiti Maya Gurung, lives in Nederland now, but she has felt the pain of losing her home that she built and Resham and her children grew up in. “She is upset and she cries when she sees the picture of the house, a pile of rubble. She says she had a hard life and worked hard to build this house and now it is gone,” says Lok.

When KidPick organizers Barb Hardt and Larry Higgins heard of the needs for the Kathmandu owners’ families, they brainstormed ways to help. They put up a Facebook site asking for musicians to join them in a fundraiser on their usual KidPick Friday. The response was phenomenal.

Hardt says, “We did this because it needed to be done. The musicians wanted to help and this is what you do to help those who need it. This needed to be a local event.”

It ended up being a standing-room-only event. As people poured into the restaurant, money poured into the donation jar. An anonymous donor pledged to match, up to $5,000, what was raised; a total of over $11,000 was deposited in the Nepal Earthquake Victims fund at Centennial Bank, Post Office Box 69, Nederland.

Former Nederland resident and renowned musician Richie Furay played a set and brought back memories of 60s classics. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Furay formed the Buffalo Springfield Band and Poco. He said, “I am honored to come up to Nederland and be a part of this. It is beautiful for the family. Praise the Lord for that.”

Members of the Calvary Chapel’s Revelation 19 performed 70s classics, such as “Teach Them Well.” Ted Zychlinski said, “Tonight there are people whose only home is a tent, and many don’t even have that.”

The No Go Gilbillies ended the night’s performances. Not only did the musicians donate their time and talent, but many volunteers jumped in to help clear tables, pour water, prepare silverware and napkins and cook for the 212 people who enjoyed the buffet.

On Saturday morning, the money was counted and deposited in the bank. Lok said he heard from his brother that so many private sectors organizations in Nepal are wanting to help the earthquake victims, but “the government is saying no. I don’t know why. It makes me upset. People in my area are not getting anything.”

When the earthquake hit at noon, Resham’s sister said the house fell and dust flew everywhere. People were crying and screaming and many were hurt. Her brother-in-law dragged his wife from the house across to a field where many found safety.

Resham’s 90-year-old father is now homeless, living outside. The weather is chilly and wet, moving into the monsoon season. She says her brother and sister say that Nepal looks completely different. “When the earthquake came, they said they didn’t feel like there would still be life, but now they are feeling there is hope. God is watching and that is a good thing.”

As Resham and Malla watched the mountain community come together on behalf of the earthquake victims, Malla said, “I love this community. I will never ever forget these things that people are doing. Everybody is coming to help. Wow. I felt the love. If I was in New York I would not get this feeling.”