News Release

Hope Rises as Rain Continues to Fall

As incessant rains fell last week, people who needed food and other basic essentials increased.  Hope seemed bleak as many saw broken homes submerged in water and families littered in evacuation centers.  However, hope was restored as relief goods and services trickled their way into many communities and centers. One area, almost unreachable, thought they had been forgotten.  

San Isidro, Laguna, had waters reaching neck deep while in other areas people waded in waist high waters searching for ways to survive.  Such was the condition when LDS Charities arrived to distribute 1,000 bags of food and 1,000 hygiene kits to families in the barangay.  

In the days prior to that, more than 200 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers accomplished close to 3,000 man hours of service packing food, hygiene and baby kits.  Partner organizations like the GMA Kapuso Foundation and TV 5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation picked up more than 1,500 food bags and 1,500 hygiene kits.  In addition, sleeping kits, water, clothing, baby kits and biscuits were also provided.   

Staging points where goods were packed for distribution were also organized in the Aurora Chapel in Quezon City as well as in Angeles and Olongapo while volunteers continued to work in the basement of the Church Area Office.There were sixty (60) meetinghouse facilities used as evacuation centers, with 4,032 total evacuees througout Metro Manila and the outlying provinces.   

Franco Advincula of LDS Charities, recalling his experience in San Isidro, said, “The water was knee deep to neck deep in the area near the San Isidro Barangay Hall. All houses were flooded in the barangay. It was good to help, but it melted your heart to see the people’s condition.  We were able to have a good start but the need is immense.”

One of the beneficiaries said that water would subside by November of this year if they base it from their Ondoy experience.

Senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Bell, expressed, “We were overwhelmed by the love and gratitude shown by the people of San Isidro.  They were smiling and kind and we were uplifted by them. It was wonderful to see members of  San Pablo Stake (diocese) meet the supply truck and help distribute the food and hygiene kits.”

Relief efforts continued as La Segesse School in Pasig received 55 food bags that they desperately needed for their students who were also children with disabilities (CWDs).

One volunteer said, “I do not have the means to provide food to many of our people, but I am physically healthy to pack the food bags and hygiene kits.  This is what I can offer and I would gladly do this anytime as I follow the example of Jesus Christ to love others."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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