Community Clothes Drive and Relief Distribution After the Dithwa Cyclone

How SAHO Creations Mobilized Communities to Support Disaster-Affected Families in Sri Lanka
The Dithwa cyclone brought widespread destruction across Sri Lanka, leaving thousands of families displaced and struggling to recover. Many households lost their homes, property, livelihoods, and even their daily wearable clothing due to severe flooding. In response to this urgent humanitarian crisis, SAHO Creations launched a Community Clothes Drive and Relief Distribution Campaign to support families in need.
This coordinated and community-driven effort became a powerful example of how collective action can restore hope during times of tragedy.

Mobilizing Clothing and Essential Supplies

To address the immediate need for clothing and basic items, SAHO Creations initiated a social media campaign calling for public support. The response was remarkable, with contributions pouring in from:

Sonu Academy
SAVE a Life
Puthiyavelicham
Jaffna Entrepreneurs Association
ஊடறு Organization
Kalainila Kalaiaham – Vavuniya
Various NGOs
Uranus Youth Organization – Vavuniya
Local businesses
Individual donors across Jaffna and Vavuniya

A wide range of essential goods were collected, including:

New and used clothing for all age groups
Children’s dresses
Dry food and emergency supplies
Slippers and footwear
Torch lights
Kitchen essentials
Medicines
Nutritional items for children
Other basic necessities

This immense generosity highlighted the community’s compassion and solidarity during a national disaster.

Youth Volunteers Lead the Sorting and Packing Effort

With a massive inflow of donated items, SAHO Creations partnered with students from:

University of Jaffna
Uva Wellassa University

These young volunteers dedicated more than eight days to sorting, categorizing, and packing the items for efficient distribution.

Meanwhile, many Malayaha students were stranded in their native villages due to the cyclone. University volunteers maintained contact with them, assessed the needs of each affected area, and allocated supplies based on verified ground information. This grassroots coordination ensured that every village received the items they required the most.

Distribution Across More Than 40 Malayaga Villages

Once the sorting process was completed, distribution began in two phases:

Youth volunteers used public transport to reach accessible villages and personally hand over the essential items.
To expand the reach, two lorry loads of relief materials were dispatched to deliver goods to more remote and severely affected locations.

Thanks to the careful planning and dedicated volunteer network, SAHO Creations successfully distributed relief items to over 40 Malayaga villages, delivering timely support when families needed it most.

Partnerships That Strengthened the Relief Mission

This large-scale humanitarian initiative was made possible through the collaboration of numerous civil society groups, organizations, and individuals. Their combined efforts in donation, volunteer mobilization, and ground coordination significantly amplified the impact of the campaign.

A special appreciation goes to UAETS, whose sponsorship covered essential transportation costs and helped guide the distribution strategy. Their support ensured that relief goods reached even the most isolated and severely affected communities.

A United Community Restoring Hope

The Community Clothes Drive and Relief Distribution led by SAHO Creations is a powerful reminder of what collective action can achieve. In the face of devastating loss, people from different regions, organizations, and backgrounds came together to uplift families affected by the Dithwa cyclone.

This initiative not only provided essential support but also showcased the resilience, kindness, and unity of Sri Lankan communities during times of crisis.

Goods Collection