My name is Roxy Owens. I'm a Filipina businesswoman here in the states.
The week before Christmas, a Super Typhoon "Rai" locally known as "Odette," equivalent to a category 5 hurricane hit the southern Philippines including my hometown and the island on which our family, friends, and business colleagues (who are like family to us) live and work.
Because of power outages, we spent days not knowing if our loved ones were safe, if they had lost it all, if we had lost it all-- these were truly humbling and devastating days. We were so very lucky, the damages could have been much worse, but many in the southern Philippines are now without homes and still without food, power, water, medicine, and much needed basic supplies.
The minimum wage in metropolitan Cebu is $1 to $1.50/hour. A small donation would go so incredibly far. Even $30 could mean food for a family of 4 for a week.
Here is a general list of just a few immediate needs that could be filled to give you an idea of how a donation could help:
Generator - Pesos 80,000, approx $1600 USD
Corrugated roof sheets per piece - Pesos 500, approx $10 USD (It can take 8 – 10 roof sheets for one small house.)
Wood for roofs – for a small house - Pesos 10,000, approx $200 USD
Rolls of tarpaulin – temporary shelter - Pesos 5,000, approx $100 USD
Solar lamps/flashlights - Pesos 2,500, approx $50 USD
Jerry cans for water or fuel - Pesos 1,000, approx $20 USD
Rice per sack/50 kg - Pesos 2,500, approx $50 USD
Lugaw (meal) for 500 people - Pesos 11,000, approx $215 USD
*via Rise Above Cebu
I hope you'll consider giving, if you're able, and feel so inclined to do so. It would mean so much.
Generator - Pesos 80,000, approx $1600 USD
Corrugated roof sheets per piece - Pesos 500, approx $10 USD (It can take 8 – 10 roof sheets for one small house.)
Wood for roofs – for a small house - Pesos 10,000, approx $200 USD
Rolls of tarpaulin – temporary shelter - Pesos 5,000, approx $100 USD
Solar lamps/flashlights - Pesos 2,500, approx $50 USD
Jerry cans for water or fuel - Pesos 1,000, approx $20 USD
Rice per sack/50 kg - Pesos 2,500, approx $50 USD
Lugaw (meal) for 500 people - Pesos 11,000, approx $215 USD
*via Rise Above Cebu
I hope you'll consider giving, if you're able, and feel so inclined to do so. It would mean so much.
Knowing where to donate can be the first hurdle, therefore, we wanted to share 2 options. 100% of the the money collected here will go directly to Filipino relief organizations that we will research and vet. If you don't feel comfortable giving here, here is a list of organizations making a big difference on the ground. Either way, what's most important to us is providing support and inspiring hope for those who so desperately need it.
Thank you so much!
Unicef Philippines
https://donate.unicef.ph/campaign/children-emergencies?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=odette_emergency&utm_content=odette_linkinbio
Red Cross Philippines
Rise Above Cebu
https://riseabove-cebu.org/2021/12/22/urgent-help-is-needed-typhoon-rai-odette-caused-massive-widespread-distruction-in-cebu-city-philippines/
Lokal Lab (local Filipino organization)
Global Giving (Verified 4-star charity that is audited every year on practices and transparency)
*Photos via NPR, Lokal Lab, and Unicef
https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2021/12/20/1066049450/super-typhoon-rai-leaves-a-path-of-devastation-and-uncertainty