Vaughan council is lending a helping hand to the earthquake relief effort in China, by donating $5,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.

Sandra Yeung Racco said the city should do something to help.

“We have a growing number of Chinese living in Vaughan. We need to show solidarity. We are a very multicultural and diverse city and I would like to reflect that by doing something like this,” Ms Racco said Tuesday.

The Thornhill councillor also asked that a table be set up at City Hall where donations could be made until Friday.

The move follows the town of Markham donating $7,500 to relief efforts.

“I’m pleased to second the motion, I think if the amount was an exorbitant amount it would be somewhat questioned, but this is a very minimal humanitarian act,” Councillor Joyce Frustaglio said. “This truly is a world crisis. We wish the people of China our condolences.”

Council voted in favour of helping, but Councillor Alan Shefman suggested a policy should be set up on these matters to avoid ad hoc decision making.

An earthquake registering 7.9 on the Richter scale devastated a region of small cities and towns north of Sichuan’s provincial capital of Chengdu.

The death toll is currently estimated at 40,000.