Update: Philippines Typhoon Relief
November 13: Our District is working closely with the Rotary Club of Historic Filipino Town in typhoon disaster relief efforts. We will continue to post updates of our relief efforts. Leo Pandac, president of the Rotary Club of Historic Filipino Town, has the following update (as of 11/13/13):
"Our Rotary club is humbled and honored to take on the task to assist in every way possible the victims of the super typhoon “Yolanda” (known as Haiyan in the West) that hit the Philippines. As you know we’ve had an ongoing project ‘RC HIFI PH Relief Good’, sending goods to the Philippines with our collaborating Rotary Clubs and a Religious organization who we have trusted to store and distribute as needed when catastrophe strikes the country.
Since the latest typhoon our club has been running on all cylinders. Already we have set things in motion by initiating contact with our sister club Cebu West (www.rotarycebuwest.org) who is still mobile yet situated close to ground zero. And since there are urgent things that the Filipino people need, unfortunately the canned goods and clothing can take at least 8-10 weeks to get shipped to Manila (the Visayas region is probably not easily accessible for the next 2-3 weeks).
Therefore, we find that monetary donations are the fastest way to send to RC Cebu West. With these funds all necessary supplies - food, water, clothing, medical and materials for temporary shelters could be purchase and distributed to the affected areas with the most need.
Consequently, we are working with the local community organizations to establish drop off locations to those who wishes to donate use but useable clothing, towels, blankets, shoes, canned goods, etc.
With the assistance of the District and all other clubs, we believe we can help with our collaborating organizations. This relief activity will definitely contribute to the relief, recovery and reconstruction activities in the coming days. Please have checks payable to: RCHIFI with mailing address at 2001 W. Beverly Blvd., Ste. 201, Los Angeles, CA 90057.
Respectfully in Rotary,
Leo Pandac
President – RC Historic Filipinotown