Three days after the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco, which left thousands dead and destruction in its wake, Nora Tutin said the inability to do anything from afar was torturous.

The Moroccan-French resident in Montreal, whose parents and friends are suffering from the destruction caused by the earthquake that hit the North African country, said, "There’s nothing I want more right now than to be there and do everything I can."

In response to the growing sense of helplessness among the large Moroccan community in Montreal, an educational institution in the city decided to take initiative to give people like Tutin the opportunity to help earthquake victims from Canada.

Staff and students at LaSalle College in Montreal set up a donation site at the school on September 11, which will be sent to meet the needs of the population after the disaster.

The earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale and is the largest to hit Morocco in over a century, caused people to flee their homes in terror and disbelief on the night of Friday, September 8.

Many survivors spent their third night in the open on Sunday, as their homes were destroyed or unsafe. The death toll has risen to nearly 3,000.

For his part, Adeb Lahlo, whose family lives in Rabat, about 300 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter, said he helped organize a donation drive in solidarity with his Moroccan peers.

About 81,000 Canadians of Moroccan descent live in Quebec, with nearly half of that number residing in Montreal.

On the opening day of the donation campaign, large bags of clothing and non-perishable food items were collected, and the campaign will continue for two weeks, accepting everything from clothing, mattresses, and electric lamps to children’s supplies, hygiene products, and money for the Red Cross.

In other parts of Quebec, including Quebec City, Sherbrooke, and Drummondville, more Moroccans are coming together to provide help to their community.

Despite losing her cousin who died in the earthquake, Nouha Enkilah has been collecting funds and camping equipment for the survivors who are still suffering from the aftermath, including her husband.

Enkilah, the founder of the Moroccan Quebec Festival in Quebec City, which celebrated its second edition last month, managed to stay in touch with her husband who told her that the Moroccan people remain united despite the disaster.

She said that the people and the community are still united, preparing food and trying to help in any way possible.