Helping Queta's Family Rebuild Their Home

Please join me in raising funds to help rebuild the home of a precious person in my life: Queta

 

My name is Clare. I was born in the US and raised in Hong Kong from the age of two. Queta played a big role in my upbringing in Hong Kong and lived with us for many years. She is family. I am raising these funds to help her and her family in the recent massive typhoon that hit the Philippines, as their area was hit hard. Scoll down for a short video to meet her! And pics and info on how funds will be used. xx

 

Last Thursday, Super Typhoon Rai slammed into the Philippines and destroyed much of Queta's family's home. Queta is pictured above, with myself and my brother close to her, and family friends Nick and Emma either side. This photo was taken around Christmas 40 years ago.

 

As you can see in the pics below, Queta and her family survived the storm but their house has been hit hard, and lost much of its roofing. Right now, their focus is on finding food, water, and getting roofing reestablished to shelter them from more storms. It may take many months for them to get electricity again.

 

 

 

 

This past Saturday Dec 18th was Queta's 83rd birthday. I was trying to reach her two nieces on Facebook, to pass on my love, when I learned of the awful suffering they went through in this monster of a storm, the worst the island nation has had in 20 years. Karen helped to film this video message from Queta:

 

 

 

After watching it, and associated news reports, I realized they, like so many others in the Philippines, have been through an extremely scary time. This is one of the most devastating storms in recent memory. (Note also how awesome Queta is, "we will be okay", she is very resilient!)

 

Any funds we raise will be given to Queta's family, then any excess will be shared with their neighbors who are also struggling. If anyone in my network, or friends from my childhood who remember Queta and her kindness, can give even a few dollars, it will be very helpful to them all!

 

This is a photo of Queta and her niece, Karen, a few months ago:

 

 

Some background: How I know this wonderful woman

When I was about four years old, my mother returned to her job as a school teacher and Queta moved into our house. She helped to run our household for the next 20 or so - until my parents retired to France, at which point, she also retired to the Philippines. The word for people who do Queta's job in Hong Kong is maid, or "amah", but in truth she has always been more like a grandmother to me.

 

Queta is a very kind and wise woman. She is a devout Catholic and volunteered a lot for her church in HK. She also helped everyone she came across. Many a day we would find her counseling the younger Filipino women in the community where we lived, helping to look after them. She always looked out for me.

 

Seeing as Queta has been such a force of good in my life, I am hoping to send some of that loving-kindness back her way, and to her extended family and neighbors at a time they really need help. Thank you for anything you may be able to share!

 

How the money will be used:

 

 

 

 

 

Even $5 could make a huge difference!

 

Deadline: Jan 4, 2022

 

With love!

Clare