In the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda here locally) that devastated parts of the central Philippines last week, many people are asking "How can I help?"
I'd love to walk you through that, as I am currently living on Boracay Island in the Philippines and took footage of the typhoon that is being used in media around the world. We got hit but not nearly as hard as areas like Tacloban, Leyte, and Samara, where the damage and devastation are so widespread, it's led to one of the biggest humanitarian crisis in history.
I'd love to walk you through that, as I am currently living on Boracay Island in the Philippines and took footage of the typhoon that is being used in media around the world. We got hit but not nearly as hard as areas like Tacloban, Leyte, and Samara, where the damage and devastation are so widespread, it's led to one of the biggest humanitarian crisis in history.
People are good and want to help, but please do not collect diapers, books, canned goods, children's toys, blankets, etc. to send over in care packages. Your heart is in the right place, but that is not what's needed. Children do not need toys if they don't have water, yet. Pillows and blankets that are delivered 3 weeks from now won't help if someone does not have food or a shelter to sleep in.
Furthermore, it would take more manpower to ship, open, organize, and distribute than the value it would provide. Even amateur volunteers are impossible to place in the heart of the affected areas, as so far only Marines and Filipino troops can access the survivors.
What they need is money. Getting charitable donations to the right organizations, who can give these people what they need, is the #1 best way to be of assistance to the typhoon survivors.
Furthermore, it would take more manpower to ship, open, organize, and distribute than the value it would provide. Even amateur volunteers are impossible to place in the heart of the affected areas, as so far only Marines and Filipino troops can access the survivors.
What they need is money. Getting charitable donations to the right organizations, who can give these people what they need, is the #1 best way to be of assistance to the typhoon survivors.
I am no expert, but I do some philanthropy work and know some amazing full-time altruists, and from what I've seen, Direct Relief is a great place to donate your hard-earned money.
Direct Relief is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides medical assistance to people around the world who have been affected by poverty, natural disasters, and civil unrest.
They work internationally, have boots on the ground already in the Philippines, have no political or religious agenda, and a whopping 99% of donations go DIRECTLY to the affected victims. Those admin costs are incredibly low compared to the Red Cross and others.
So please consider a donation to DirectRelief.org. Months ago, I signed up for a humble donation every month that is automatically deducted from my bank account. Even for the cost of a few Starbucks coffees a week you could help a typhoon survivors here in the Philippines.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping, and please share this to spread the word.
Norm :-)
Direct Relief is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides medical assistance to people around the world who have been affected by poverty, natural disasters, and civil unrest.
They work internationally, have boots on the ground already in the Philippines, have no political or religious agenda, and a whopping 99% of donations go DIRECTLY to the affected victims. Those admin costs are incredibly low compared to the Red Cross and others.
So please consider a donation to DirectRelief.org. Months ago, I signed up for a humble donation every month that is automatically deducted from my bank account. Even for the cost of a few Starbucks coffees a week you could help a typhoon survivors here in the Philippines.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping, and please share this to spread the word.
Norm :-)
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