by KYW's Jim Melwert

There's a local effort to reach across the Pacific and help those who've survived China's devastating earthquake

On the same day the country of China began a three day period of mourning for the tens of thousands killed in an earthquake a week ago, members of the local Chinese community announced the success of their fund-raising efforts. Han Pan of the Szechuan Earthquake Relief Fund Committee says in just four days, the group raised almost a quarter of a million dollars:

"To our surprise we found people care and actually are very active in fund-raising. We raised $220,000 dollars in less than four days.

The money will be turned over to the Chinese Consulate and then given to the Chinese Red Cross China.  Han Pan says people from all different cultures and classes helped with the fund-raising.