From Sonoma to Nepal, a Community United Raises Over $100,000 for Flood Relief

By Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa

SONOMA, California, September 23, 2026 — Thousands of miles separate the vineyards and rolling hills of California’s Sonoma Valley from the towering mountains of Nepal. On Tuesday, September 22, that distance seemed to disappear as hundreds of participants gathered at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall to express compassion, solidarity, and support for communities devastated by the recent floods in Nepal.

The fundraising event, “Sonoma for Nepal: A Flood Relief Charity Dinner,” was jointly organized by the Himalayan Sherpa Club of Sonoma and the California Sherpa Association, with support from the City of Sonoma. Under the message “From the Heart of Sonoma to the Peaks of Nepal,” the gathering brought together members of the Sherpa communities, local residents, civic leaders, businesses, restaurants, wineries, volunteers and supporters from across the Bay Area.

The evening began with the national anthems of the United States and Nepal, reflecting both the community’s home in America and its enduring connection to Nepal. The American and Nepali flags stood at the corners of the stage, while colorful Buddhist prayer flags stretched across the hall, bringing the colors and cultural spirit of the Himalayas into the heart of Sonoma. The program was hosted by Ngawang Sherpa, who guided the gathering through an evening of remembrance, cultural expression, and humanitarian solidarity.

Members of the Sherpa community offered Buddhist prayers for the victims of the floods, remembering those who lost their lives and offering wishes for the safety and recovery of those affected. The prayers also carried thoughts of families grieving loved ones and of those who lost homes, livelihoods, property and a sense of security in the disaster.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when Sonam Jangbu Sherpa presented a video showing the devastation caused by the floods in Nepal. Images of destroyed communities and the suffering of affected families brought the reality of the disaster into the hall. As the scenes unfolded on the screen, the atmosphere grew solemn, reminding those gathered that behind every statistic were individuals, families, and communities struggling to rebuild their lives.

Hundreds of participants gathered for the fundraising event, with people traveling from different parts of the Bay Area and many local Sonoma residents joining the effort. The turnout was so large that the hall reached capacity, and some well-wishers and supporters who arrived later were unable to enter. The response demonstrated how a tragedy thousands of miles away had touched not only the Nepali diaspora but also the wider Sonoma community.

The gathering was attended by Sonoma Mayor Ron Wellander, former mayors, law-enforcement representatives, local community leaders and a representative from the office of U.S. Representative Mike Thompson. Thompson represents California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Sonoma County. Their presence reflected the relationship that has developed between the Sherpa community and the broader Sonoma community over the years.

Speaking at the gathering, Mayor Wellander said the influence and contributions of the Sherpa community extend far beyond the Sonoma Valley. He described members of the community as gracious and kind hosts and spoke about what the broader community could learn from their generosity, hospitality and willingness to help others. Reflecting on the response to the disaster in Nepal, the mayor emphasized the importance of communities standing together when genuine need arises, saying, “Our community stands and responds to real need.”

Gombu Sherpa, president of the California Sherpa Association, expressed gratitude to the sponsors, donors, volunteers and community members who came forward to support the humanitarian effort. He spoke about the devastating consequences of the floods in Nepal, including the loss of lives, missing people, displaced families and damage to homes, livelihoods and vital infrastructure. He also thanked the City of Sonoma, Sonoma County, the local community, businesses and volunteers for their cooperation and support in making the fundraising event possible.

The evening demonstrated how broadly the call for assistance had reached. Local restaurants contributed food, wineries from Sonoma and surrounding areas provided support, businesses and sponsors made contributions, and volunteers offered their time and energy to organize the gathering. Members of the Sherpa community dressed in traditional attire presented white khatas to donors and sponsors as tokens of gratitude and appreciation, bringing another meaningful Himalayan tradition into the evening.

For the Himalayan Sherpa Club of Sonoma and the California Sherpa Association, responding to suffering in Nepal is not new. Members of the community have previously mobilized humanitarian support during major tragedies in Nepal, including following the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche and the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake. Alongside efforts to preserve Sherpa culture, heritage and traditions in Northern California, humanitarian service has remained an important part of their community activities.

Pemba Sherpa, president of the Himalayan Sherpa Club of Sonoma, said that living thousands of miles from Nepal has not weakened the community’s connection to its homeland. “Even though we live abroad, our hearts always remain connected to Nepal, especially during times of hardship and need,” he said. He described the fundraising effort as an expression of love and solidarity for the flood-affected families and thanked the donors, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who helped make the event possible.

The fundraising campaign has already raised more than $100,000, according to the organizers, but the effort is continuing. Donations will be accepted through the end of September 2026, allowing those who were unable to attend the event an opportunity to contribute. After the campaign concludes and the final amount is determined, organizers said the collected funds will be transferred directly to Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund through the California Sherpa Association.

Beyond the amount raised, the evening told a larger story of two communities connected across continents. Beneath colorful Buddhist prayer flags, the American and Nepali flags stood together on the stage. The national anthems of both countries opened the gathering. Buddhist prayers remembered those who had died. Sherpas in traditional attire offered white khatas in gratitude. Images from flood-ravaged Nepal brought emotion and silence to a hall thousands of miles away. Restaurants prepared food, wineries contributed, volunteers worked behind the scenes, and civic and community representatives stood alongside local residents in support of people they may never meet.

For one evening, the mountains of Nepal did not seem so far from the valleys of Sonoma. A disaster thousands of miles away had called for compassion, and a community in Northern California answered, not only with financial contributions, but with prayer, culture, friendship, and collective action.

From the heart of Sonoma to the peaks of Nepal, the gathering carried a simple message across the Pacific: distance may separate communities, but compassion can still bring them together.

All photos courtesy of the Himalayan Sherpa Club of Sonoma.