Feeling the effect of the widespread damage in the Philippines, the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee has organized several initiatives in hopes of bringing some relief after super typhoon Haiyan hit the area on Nov. 8.
“Being a diverse community and representing a large number of families in our area, we felt that this touched many people close to home,” said Harry Platt, deputy mayor and township committee liaison for VCDC.
Platt explained that the committee developed the relief efforts after having its first meeting the Monday after the typhoon hit. In addition to organizing ongoing collection efforts, they developed plans to hold a fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 6, at Lions Lake Park.
“All proceeds will go to the relief effort,” Platt said.
Following super typhoon Haiyan, Gwen DeVera, vice chair of the Camden County Human Relations Commission and member of the VCDC, said she was the recipient of many phone calls from locals offering support to aide the Philippines.
“Everybody was concerned to see what they could do,” DeVera said.
She then immediately contacted the Philippine Consulate General in New York to get more information on relief efforts.
“The first days they did not have any shelter and people were dying,” DeVera said. “To this date, people are still crying for relief.”
Originally hailing from the southern region of the Philippines, DeVera said she has friends and family in the region impacted by the typhoon.
While in the Philippines in 2008, she recalled staying at a friend’s home that has since been destroyed during the typhoon.
“This house has already disappeared,” DeVera said. “Already gone.”
While she has learned that both her family members and friends in the region are safe, DeVera added that many affected by the typhoon are now living in tents without electricity and sanitation.
“I feel really sad for the people there,” DeVera said. “Especially the poor, they just get poorer.”
In addition to the fundraiser, the committee will be accepting donations that will be handed over to the Philippine Consulate General in New York to be distributed to the Philippine Red Cross.
In a thank you letter to the American public posted on the Philippine Consulate General’s website, the damage caused by the typhoon is outlined in statistics:
“At the time of this writing, super typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded in history, has resulted in the following casualties: 3,976 fatalities, injuries to 18,175 people, and 1,598 missing people. It has affected about 10.3 million people (4 million of them were displaced) in nine regions, 44 provinces, 574 municipalities and 57 cities. It has also caused millions of dollars in damages to the infrastructure, agriculture, industries, livelihoods and private properties in the affected areas.”
In addition to monetary donations, the Voorhees municipal building, located in Voorhees Town Center, will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food items, clothing and toiletries for the Philippine Red Cross for distribution.
For a complete list of items needed, residents can visit the VCDC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VoorheesCulturalDiversityCommittee.
DeVera said there is no timeline for when fundraising efforts in Voorhees will conclude, as she added that she expects it will be some time until the affected area completely recovers.
In addition, she said she would be in charge of delivering all donations to the Philippine Consulate General.
The fundraiser for super typhoon Haiyan relief will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Hall at Lions Lake Park. At the fundraiser, the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Foundation Board of Trustees will be joined by elected township officials, county officials and members of the local business community for the night, which includes refreshments and live entertainment.
Tickets cost $25 per person and will be sold at the door. Tickets can also be purchased ahead of time by mailing a check to VCDF, Inc., P.O. Box 902, Voorhees, NJ 08043–0902. All checks should have the notation “Filipino Relief.”
All other relief donations can also be made to same address.
For more information, contact DeVera at 751–1364 or via email devera6@verizon.net.
