Update 1/8/22
So much to update!
First off, a continuous and a deep heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated. Your help, no matter how small or large, is making a huge impact on many who have been struggling in the Philippines. It helps when people share the links to the donation page or the Clean Water page so even that is making a dramatic difference. Notable shares are thanks to our niece at The Mantra Co., Yogalexa, and our sister Xandra McQueen as she shared as her charity of choice for her birthday. Those shares helped bring eyes and hearts to our page, so thank you ladies!
Second of all, we’ve got deliveries #3 and #4 already in the works with #5 already being brainstormed for!!!
Our third delivery to help 100 families is in the works and is going to be a matched donation by MENEZ USA (aka mom & dad 😍). Each rice sack will cost $4. We will be donating $200 for rice, which will be matched by MENEZ USA, and since they are helping to pack the rice in smaller bags to distribute from larger sacks, I allotted $50 for labor. I used up funds donated by The Mantra Co, Kuyawear, Irene Chansawang, and Alyssa Rodriguez to help fund this delivery. As soon as this delivery gets distributed, I’ll be working on delivery #5 which will continue to help the area where my parents live and will likely be a redistribution of water and hopefully some food packs.
At the same time that delivery #3 is in the works, I’ve got my Manang Katy in Bacolod helping me to coordinate again for delivery #4. This time I’ve allotted $8.88 per family. We will be making 40 packs and each will contain:
1 container of water (18L or 4.75 gallons)
2 kilos of rice (20 cups of rice)
4 cans of sardines
4 cans of corned beef
I can’t even believe that less than $9 covers all of that. Along with this delivery, I’ll be sending 1500 php ($30 usd) to my other cousin, Rita, for her help in putting the packs together. I’m not sure what area this delivery will go do, but it will be either Ilog (again), Kabankalan, or Sipalay. My cousin has been working with Kwench Refilling Station as they have been handling a lot of the local relief efforts and delivering out to the areas that need the water and food packs most. The total amount for this delivery will cost us 18,220php (~$355 usd).
Delivery #5 will likely be for Batang area again but this time to help distribute food packs. My mom is asking me to help with roofings for the village. I’m reluctant because I feel like the money should be used on water and food. Perhaps I’ll run another fundraiser strictly for roofing once we figure out what paying for that would look like. We shall see.
Third of all, I wasn’t sure I wanted to share this but I thought I might as well… Yes, we are helping families across a small remote area in the Philippines, but on a side note, we are helping my mom. I feel like ever since she and I started working on a project together to help advocate for her neighbors and their needs, she’s seemed happier. Even through the traumatic stresses of the storm and having been under lock down off and on for the past (nearly) 2 years, I feel like her efforts into helping others has brought out a side to her that I think is helping her out of her rut. So thank you everyone.
Last of all, I feel like I’m failing to thank and praise the Lord for this opportunity to help so many families. So thank you, Father God, for helping to use me as a vessel to get help to the families who need help. Help me to help them. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
