14 The Queens Courier • november 14, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Photo courtesy of NASA/NOAA Filipino community feels the pain as typhoon toll climbs HOW YOU CAN HELP BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO AND CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] Maria Lourdes Santiago watched, worried and waited for news out of her native Philippines after one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded made landfall in the Samar province of the country late last week. Typhoon Haiyan is estimated to have killed tens of thousands and left many in need of water, food and medical supplies, according to reports. As news of the storm hit Queens, members of the Filipino community throughout the borough were left worried about their families and friends back home. “It’s scary being so far away from my brothers and their families,” said Santiago, 57, from Far Rockaway. “I can’t get in contact with them still and memories from Sandy give me the worst thoughts. There’s nothing I can do all the way over here.” Even as other residents have made contact with their loved ones and know they are safe, the whole Filipino community is feeling the destruction and loss. “My grandma doesn’t live over by the coast so I don’t think she was really affected, but right now the country as a whole feels the pain,” said Amanda Mercado, 27, from Jackson Heights. Some local groups are getting together to raise funds to help in the rebuilding of the devastated islands. The Bayahnihan Filipino Community Center in Woodside, a program of the not-for-profit grassroots organization Philippine Forum, which offers direct services to the Filipino communities in New York, has begun working with local residents and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) to raise money for victims of the typhoon. “There’s a lot of unrest right now, people are frustrated,” said Anne Beryl Naguit, member of Philippine Forum and part of the NAFCON staff. “A lot of them local families are looking to seek guidance and for those who’ve found their families, it’s about getting the help to them.” According to Naguit, the Filipino government does not have a strong budget to provide disaster relief to victims, who now are left relying strongly on outside donations. One resident from the community center who has made contact with her family overseas said they told her they currently have no food, water or a good space to stay, said Naguit. Since the storm hit on Friday, November 8, the group has managed to raise $10,000 nationally and they hope to continue raising the same amount every month. “It’s amazing because it’s an outpouring support,” said Naguit. “The money can build many communities in the Philippines.” NAFCON is working together with grassroots organizations, consisting of church groups and students, in the Philippines to ensure the money raised will go directly to those who need it the most. Donations can be made on www. nafconusa.org through the NAFCON PayPal account. NAFCON held a community forum on Typhoon Haiyan and candlelight vigil for the families affected by the storm on Wednesday, November 13 at the community center, located at 40-21 69th Street. “We wanted to educate people so they are not just giving back, but they are also aware of helping the Philippines empower and change those environmental conditions to make a better society in the future as they rebuild,” said Naguit. NAFCON is also coming together with the New York State Nurses Association and National Nurses United to gather emergency personnel to go to the greatly affected areas in early December. The Filipino-American United Church of Christ in New York, which holds services at the Pilgrim Congregational church in Richmond Hill, is also accepting donations for the relief efforts. Those looking to donate can either send their donations in the form of a check, payable to Fil-Am UCC and mailed to 102-35 89th Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11418, or by visitingwww.filamuccny. org/3/donate.htm. The Greater New York Red Cross is operating a call center for New Yorkers trying to locate family overseas and coping with emotional trauma. The number for the center is 1-877-REDCROSS. People wishing to donate to the American Red Cross can go to redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS. st of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Place 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment, Implementation Strategy & Service Plan Now available on the hospital web site: www.nyhq.org/communityserviceplan Or, request by mail or phone: Division of Public Affairs & Marketing 56-45 Main Street, Flushing N.Y. 11355 Attn: Community Service Plan (718) 670-1065
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