Help Lapu-Lapu City Rebuild After Typhoon Odette

Hi, my name is Venus Heaps. I live in the U.S., but my hometown of Lapu-lapu City in the Philippines was hit hard by Typhoon Odette on December 16th. After a few weeks with no power or communications there, I was finally able to contact some of my friends and family and learned just how devastated the community is. Nearly everyone in my neighborhood and the church where I grew up has extensive damage to their homes. Many families lost their house entirely and all their belongings. Several are staying in tents or shelters set up on the church property. There are food, water, and power shortages in the area that will last for months.

My family was blessed because they all survived uninjured and their home only lost part of the roof. I already sent them money to repair the damage and get them through this challenging time. But, with your help, I would like to extend that same assistance to my childhood friends, neighbors, and my brothers and sisters in the church. Whatever money I am able to raise will be provided directly to the families in the area with the greatest need as identified by the local church leaders of my hometown congregation (Lapu-lapu 1st Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

Thank you for whatever generosity you can offer during this holiday season. May God bless you and the people of the Philippines as they rebuild!