GK USA: Urgent Appeal for typhoon Juan victims

How can you help?

Financial contributions can be directly deposited to GK USA's bank account or checks mailed to the office payable to GK USA, as follows:

Damaged power lines, Iligan, Isabela AP photo

Deposit to:
Bank of America account # 24677-71882
GK1world dba Gawad Kalinga USA
memo: Typhoon Juan
Bank of America routing # 122000661
SWIFT Code (ISO 9362): BOFAUS3N
or Mail to :
GK USA 12702 Via Cortina Ste. 202,
Del Mar, CA 92014
memo: Typhoon Juan

or Online at:
GK USA Give page

You can also contact your local area GK USA team leaders as follows:

Sifting through debris, Ilagan, Isabela AP photo.

Jun Rafinan,  jrafinan@aol.com, South East area including FL.

Linda Punsalan, epuns4321@aol.com, South Central areas including TX and OK.

Tony Pascua, tpascua@gk1world.com, South West A areas including Bakersfield to South LA, CA and Las Vegas, NV.

Joe Millares, jmillares@gk1world.com, Pacific areas including HI.

Gerry Balbin, gbalbin@gk1world.com, North Central areas including IL and MO.

Sonny Ramirez, sramirez@gk1world.com, North East areas including NJ, NY, NH, CT and MA.

Ben Dichoso, bdichoso@gk1world.com, South East A areas including DC, MD, DE, NC, VA and WV.

Tony Olaes, tolaes@gk1world.com, including national and San Diego areas.
 
Rick Munda, rmunda@gk1world.com, South West B areas including Orange county to San Diego, CA and AZ.

Fredy Guevara, fguevara@gk1world.com, North West areas including Fresno, CA to Reno, NV, OR and WA.

Catholic Relief Services Poised to Respond as Super Typhoon Slams Philippines

From: Rivera, John
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 8:53 AM
To: CRS-US
Subject: Catholic Relief Services Poised to Respond as Super Typhoon Slams Philippines

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:  Liz O’Neill                                      Laura Sheahen

                        Catholic Relief Services                 Catholic Relief Services

                        Baltimore                                        Manila

                        (443) 955-7125                               63 (0) 915 772 9319

                        loneill@crs.org                               lsheahen@asia.crs.org

                       

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES POISED TO RESPOND

AS SUPER TYPHOON SLAMS PHILIPPINES

Manila, October 18, 2010--Catholic Relief Services is readying emergency humanitarian aid for families affected by Typhoon Megi, the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines in years. The typhoon struck northeast Luzon on Monday and has already damaged houses, infrastructure, and crops.

"Heavy rains are blanketing northern Luzon following the extreme winds experienced today," says Joe Curry, country representative for CRS in the Philippines. "We are watching for potential flooding and getting access to affected areas."

CRS is working with local dioceses and with Caritas Philippines to respond to the crisis. Arnaldo Arcadia, Emergency Program Manager for CRS, was at a parish outside the city of Baguio during a bad point in Monday's storm. "We took refuge in the parish when the winds were strong and the rain was battering down," he says. He and CRS partners were eventually able to return to the city.

Crop damage is a concern for northern Luzon's impoverished farmers. "The wind has become very strong now," said Father Val Dimoc on Monday from the mountainous Cordillera region. "Upland rice farmers who planted in early July were about to harvest, but their crops have been blown down by the wind."

In the immediate wake of 2009's devastating Typhoon Ketsana, CRS reached over 10,000 people with emergency items like cookware, soap, and buckets.  In the following months, CRS employed survivors to remove flood debris and clear drainage areas. It also rebuilt houses.

CRS has worked in the Philippines since 1945, assisting those in need without regard to race or creed.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. For more information, please visit www.crs.org.