Every so often Mother Nature shows us her true power.
Unfortunately, that usually means destruction, heartbreak and loss of life. Mother Nature's fury was unleashed on the Philippines last week when a massive typhoon hit the central islands.
As of Thursday, authorities confirmed more than 4,400 people were dead and more than 900,000 people have been displaced. Hundreds of thousands are struggling to come up with the bare necessities of food, water and shelter. The images that have been blasted through the media are simply heartbreaking. To see the loss of human life, to see others in so much pain and suffering from something they had no control over is tragic.
Aid relief from Canada, the U.S. and other countries is starting to arrive in the country and get into the affected areas, but the need is going to be great for months if not years to come as the area's crippled infrastructure is rebuilt.
Here on the Sunshine Coast, the community is starting to mobilize for fundraising events. We hope anyone organizing will reach out to us so we can publicize all the details.
One of the best ways you can help in the meantime is through the Canadian Red Cross.
The Red Cross has been on the ground since before the storm hit, helping to evacuate families in coastal areas and supporting emergency shelters, and is providing urgently needed basic services to affected communities. The International Red Cross is co-ordinating closely with the Philippine Red Cross and has a global network of trained disaster response experts and pre-positioned emergency supplies ready to deploy if needed. Those wishing to make a donation can do so online at www.redcross.ca, or by calling 1-800-418-1111. The government of Canada will match the donations of individual Canadians between now and Dec. 9, and the provincial government has committed to match up to a total of $300,000 in monetary donations that British Columbians make to the Canadian Red Cross by Dec. 9.
Habitat for Humanity Canada, which has a strong chapter here on the Sunshine Coast, is also stepping up. Since 1998, Habitat for Humanity has been working in disaster response to offer intervention to help vulnerable families and communities recover from devastating disasters like this.
Habitat was there to offer relief in the U.S. Gulf Coast after hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti. Anyone who wants to give to this organization can do so at https://habitatcanada.thankyou4caring.org/pages/TyphoonHaiyan.
Canadians have big hearts, and when others are in need, we step up. It's just in our nature and this is no different. We know that residents here on the Sunshine Coast will open up their hearts and wallets and give back to help. It's empowering to give.
