Skip to main content

Feel Good Friday – Help Sherpas Help Nepal

We are all aware of the tragic earthquake that hit Nepal. And while there are a plethora of organizations to donate to, we wanted to clue you in on one that we have always admired.

Kathmandu-based outdoor apparel manufacturer Sherpa Adventure Gear has created an earthquake relief fund called “Help Sherpas Help Nepal” to support aid to remote villages affected by the disaster.

The company and its facilities in the Kathmandu valley were spared the wrath of the earthquake, which has left thousands and counting dead and millions without shelter and basic necessities.

Made in nepal
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sherpa Adventure Gear has committed to initially raising $75,000 (they are already at $50,000) through the campaign and 100% of the money raised will be dedicated to direct relief efforts thru Sherpa Adventure Gear’s existing network in villages, where the company underwrites the education of Sherpa children through its charitable Paldorje Education Fund.

As Tashi Sherpa, founder and CEO of Sherpa Adventure Gear, wrote, “100% of your funds will go for immediate relief on the ground through our Paldorje Education Fund network-already set up to benefit the children of Sherpa families in remote villages. With each day, the death toll rises, along with the need for water, tents, and medicine. We believe this is the wisest way to bring support where it does the most good, working through our contacts in each community. This is not the kind of adventure anyone seeks, but we are determined to see it through, no matter how long it takes.”

Sherpa and his colleagues are acting on the ground from Kathmandu to arrange for immediate supplies of tarps, water purifiers, sanitary supplies and more to be brought in from India by road. It has also appealed to its network of contacts in the greater subcontinent region to supply what they can in the way of urgently needed water, health and sanitation supplies and temporary shelter.

About the need in remote areas, Tashi wrote, “The village people are in desperate need of help now and later. The devastation in many areas is so complete that it will take years and years to recover and rebuild.”

“There is much we can do together to help,” he added. “We can reduce the pain of the present and help to ease the future for those who need to see hope.”

Sherpa
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the highest reaches of the Himalayas, the Sherpa people lead the world in mountaineering with warmth, grace and good humor. Tashi Sherpa-upon discovering that his uncle was on Sir Edmund Hilary’s celebrated 1953 expedition to the summit of Everest-founded Sherpa Adventure Gear in 2003 in this spirit, to honor his people by creating the best quality outdoor apparel made in Nepal. The company employs hundreds in Kathmandu and Nepal at its headquarters, stores and manufacturing operations. Marketing and North American sales and distribution is based in Kent, Washington. A portion of every sale benefits the education of Sherpa children through the Paldorje Education Fund, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable arm the company established in May 2012. For more information, visit their site here.

Please visit the Sherpa Adventure Gear site to make a donation.

Images in slide show courtesy of John Burcham

Editors' Recommendations

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
The Ghostbusters have a new ride in Frozen Empire, courtesy of Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz Sprinter plays a pivotal role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The ECTO-Z makes its debut in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Later this month, the Ghostbusters will be back on the big screen in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. And while three generations of the team are coming together, there is a big addition to the crew: The ECTO-Z. At an event in New York City, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the Ghostbusters' new ride, which is a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that follows in the footsteps of the iconic ECTO-1 from the first three films.

Given the larger size of the second and third-generation Ghostbusters team, it was only natural that they would need a vehicle that could carry all of them to the scene of a haunting anywhere in NYC. As for the name, it comes from original team member Dr. Winston Zeddemore, as played by Ernie Hudson. Ghostbusters: Afterlife established that Zeddemore is now the financial backer of the Ghostbusters and the de facto leader of the team.

Read more
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more