Dear all,
As some of you already know, my friends and family back home in the Philippines are patiently enduring a terrible typhoon. In a mere six hours, Typhoon Ondoy dumped rainfall equivalent to the monthly average. In some places, the floodwaters were waist-deep; in others, the water was so high that cars and homes were completely submerged.
The floodwaters have started receding in certain places, but many people are still stranded on their rooftops, cold and wet, waiting to be rescued. The aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy will not be pretty.
Many of those affected by this catastrophe are people who earn in one month less than what we spend on two weeks’ worth of groceries. These people have lost their homes, along with everything they own. Not only will they have to deal with the loss of their belongings, but potentially the loss of their loved ones. Their health is also at risk. These floodwaters are from polluted rivers and sewage systems, carriers of disease like cholera and typhoid fever. There are many who have sustained physical injury from the debris as well. The death tolls will rise, with children losing their parents and vice versa.
I am appealing to all of you to please help those in need. I have known many of you for years, and am asking for your help as a personal favor. I have asked my mom to open an account strictly for donations to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy which will be forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross. Let us harness the power in numbers. A small financial contribution (like the $5 you’d pay for a draught beer) will go a long way. There are so many people who are in need of help. Please don't let them down.
A million thanks for all your kindness.
♥ ,
Bea Hernandez
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I started this group as a personal appeal to my friends. Many of the group's current members and donors are virtual strangers, and I would like to let you all know that your kindness and generosity have been overwhelming, and truly appreciated.
I understand that some of you might be concerned about where the money is headed. For those of you who I do not personally know, please rest assured that 100% of the funds will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross.
All the contributions are accounted for in a spreadsheet, and all correspondence with me are documented via screencaps. I will transfer the PayPal funds to the US bank account (where the cash/check donations are), then wire it to the Philippine National Red Cross' bank account with the Bank of the Philippine Islands. I will personally cover the wiring fee; nothing will be subtracted from the donations.
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To better understand the magnitude of this catastrophe, please take time to view the photos (collected from various albums on facebook) and the videos.
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Though the donations I have collected through this small relief effort have been wired off, PLEASE CONTINUE HELPING THOSE IN NEED!
Donate portable water purifiers to help prevent disease!!
* http://www.lifestraw.com
(thanks to Gail Hernandez-Gutierrez for link)
Save the Children [ PayPal, Google Checkout, Amazon ]
* http://www.savethechildren.org/get-involved/fundraising-challenges/alt-ways-to-give-phil-flood-2.html
The Philippine National Red Cross FINALLY accepts donations through PayPal (though it's only temporary)
* http://www.redcross.org.ph/
Worldvision
* http://www.worldvision.org.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=1
(thanks to Sandy Allan for link)
(read less)Dear all,
As some of you already know, my friends and family back home in the Philippines are patiently enduring a terrible typhoon. In a mere six hours, Typhoon Ondoy dumped rainfall equivalent to the monthly average. In some places, the floodwaters were waist-deep; in others, the water was so high that cars and homes were completely submerged.
The floodwaters have started receding in certain places, but many people are still stranded on their rooftops, cold and wet, waiting to be rescued....
(read more)
