SAN FRANCISCO -- As the number of those killed by the earthquake-triggered tsunami in South Asia continues to rise, many Bay Area community groups are working today to provide relief for the many people affected by the disaster.

Video

Video On Demand: Rob Roth On Bay Area's Role In Tsunami Relief

More than 50,000 people have been reportedly killed in 11 countries following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake that sent giant waves crashing off the West Coast of Southern Sumatra at more than 500 mph on Sunday.

Members of one South Bay temple have taken it upon themselves to collect clothes and money that will be sent out to the island of Sri Lanka beginning today.

The Milpitas-based Dharmapala Institute, a Buddhist temple attended by about 80 Bay Area families, has already collected more than 20 boxes of clothing, according to temple member Manjula Wickramaratne.

The clothing will be sent to Sri Lanka, an island located off the southern coast of India that was hit especially hard, with a death toll estimated at more than 18,000.

"It is unimaginable," Wickramaratne said. "If we don't get food and water to the people, there could be even more deaths."

The temple held a vigil on both Sunday and Monday nights and is planning more to pay remembrance to those who died.

Wickramaratne is a native of Sri Lanka, born in the town of Badulla in 1958. She moved to California in 1992.

She could not remember anything even remotely close to the current devastation in the country that is known for making tea and precious gems.

Volunteers from the Association for India's Development (AID) are scouring South Bay communities and places of worship in an attempt at collecting more donations for the ravaged country.

AID, a national organization with a chapter in Mountain View, has already raised more than $300,000 in donations nationwide, according to AID spokesman Aniruddha Vaidya.

"We are working on a grassroots campaign to get everyone involved," Vaidya said. "Many people have been moved by the tragedy."

Many of the donations have come through the organizations' Web site, which has an account set up to receive the contributions.

Volunteers have actually been able to speak with relief workers in India, who are stationed at an AID chapter in the coastal city of Chennai.

Vaidya said he has spoken with volunteers each day to receive updates on the situation, which has become increasingly dire.

"They were quite overwhelmed by the disaster," Vaidya said.

The volunteers have been providing food and drinking water for victims who have been forced to inhabit various shelters and temples.

Bay Area Red Cross spokeswoman Mila Fairfax said the organization has been receiving a tremendous amount support from the local community.

The money will be used to pay for shelter and food in the countries affected by the enormous waves. Only monetary donations are being accepted currently.