after hearing of/seeing the devastation of this super typhoon haiyan (or yolanda, as the filipinos are calling it,) on top of the earthquake that hit the philippines just three weeks before, i have been completely devastated myself. literally crying out to the Lord in desperation for these people that hold so much of my heart now.
if you are not up to date on the tragedy, here are some current (and concise) statistics i compiled for you:
the most powerful storm in history, typhoon haiyan's current death toll is at 3,976 people with 18,175 injured and 1,598 missing. 4 million people have been displaced, and 11 million have been affected. (5 million of those are children; 1.5 million of those are under the age of five.)
if you would like to HELP…and SERVE by giving…and reach out to the poor, downtrodden, broken-hearted, and the "least of these" trying to survive this tragedy…here are a plethora of options for you:
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- the filipino association of greater kansas city is collecting goods here till this friday, the 22nd to ship over. (more info here and here.)- action against hunger:: donate toward saving lives and restoring livelihoods here.
- american red cross:: donate toward helping those affected by the typhoon here. also partnering with iTunes, make a donation here.
- americares:: donate toward giving suffering filipino families lifesaving aid here.
- BTEA:: donate toward the organization i was involved with this summer and deliver relief and Christ's message of hope here. (james 1:22.)
- child fund intl:: donate toward aiding children and their families here.
- direct relief:: donate toward providing and delivering medical aid for current typhoon victims and additional flood relief supplies here.
- habitat for humanity:: donate toward rebuilding the homes of those that were destroyed here.
- heart to heart:: donate toward delivering aid and relief to those affected here. if you are a medical professional willing to travel to the philippines, visit here. provide care kits to the filipinos in need HERE!!
- intl rescue committee:: donate toward mobilizing a humanitarian response to the typhoon by way of clean water, healthcare, and other urgent needs here.
- mercy corps:: donate toward providing desperate families with food, water, shelter, and other basic supplies here.
- operation blessing intl:: donate toward providing food, water, medical care, and other critical relief to the typhoon victims here.
- oxfam:: donate toward providing typhoon victims with essential needs but also the building of emergency latrines, mobile water treatment units, and installation of tanks and taps to deliver clean water here.
- plan intl:: donate toward delivering aid to the needs of children and their families, including food, water, shelter, sanitation, medical supplies, educational resources, and emotional/psychosocial support here.
- save the children:: donate toward protecting and helping children and their families with emergency assistance here.
- shelterbox:: donate toward helping provide a shelter, warmth, and dignity to those who have lost everything here.
- water missions intl:: donate toward bringing safe water and critical relief to those in need here.
- world vision:: you can text HOPE to 777444 to donate $10 toward donations of food, clean water, emergency shelter. or if you're feeling $10 is not enough, donate here.
- unicef:: you can text RELIEF to 864233 to donate $10 toward giving shelter, clean water, medicine, and nutrition to the five million children affected by this typhoon. or if you're feeling $10 is not enough, donate here.
- the salvation army:: you can text TYPHOON to 80888 to donate $10 toward sorting, shipping, and distributing donated goods. or if you're feeling $10 is not enough, donate here.
- international medical corps:: you can text MED to 80888 to donate $10 toward donations of food, clean water, and medicine. or if you're feeling $10 is not enough, donate here.
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matthew 25:35-40.
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-and don't forget to pray.
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-and don't forget to pray.
