Please disregard the donate button on the upper right side corner of this page. I am officially ending this relief project but have no means of deleting the link tags since that is being managed by Nanoaid.
Again, my sincere thanks goes to Reach Youth Foundation, Matt & Lauren of Nanoaid, and to Vincent and Ellie for their donation. May blessing and favor follow you all the days of your life!
October 17 marked the special day when my husband and I went to Reach Youth Foundation’s office and later joined two of their volunteer workers, Jennifer and James for an outreach program at Bakawan St., San Antonio Village, Makati City.
While Jen and James were armed with their powerful and unique weapon – a Bible, and a soup ladle (for the street bible study and feeding program), my husband Al & I came with our yellow plastic bag filled with used toys, handmade cards and goodies from the children in our own community in Western Bicutan, Taguig City.
We visited a small community at Bakawan Street, particularly near the humble homes of several families residing in close proximity to a creek; hence they too were swiped with floods from the Ondoy typhoon. The floods have subsided now and some of the children are actually at school for a series of Saturday make-up classes due to the week-long suspension of classes during the heights of flooding in the metropolis. Just the same, we continued with the toy donation and had a bit of fellowship, singing and dancing with the children.
Thanks heaps to the toy donors, children volunteers, benefactors, Reach Youth Foundation, and Nanoaid!
Following through on my last blog, we had a card making session with some children from Western Bicutan, Taguig. Some of the children I invited were unavailable but their parents generously sent some toys for the activity.
Group 1 getting on with their card project.
It was an amazing sight to see the children making the cards… there were no templates for them to follow, just art materials laid in front of them and a brief orientation that their cards will land on the hands of children in flood-striken communities. While the the children are busy with the cards, I overheard two of the girls chatting. One child asked in tagalog, “Bakit heart ang drinowing mo sa card” (”Why are you drawing a heart on the card?”). With a smile, 10 year old Kyla replied, “Kasi kawawa naman sila, nawalan na sila ng bahay – kaya kailangan nila ng love” (”Because I feel for them. They have already lost their homes — that’s why they need some love”). This just shows us that children are never too young to know what’s going on around them, especially if they can actually do something to help out the other kids.
The volunteer children were not just creative in their card making. They also imparted encouraging words and simple yet sincere messages.
Kyla's card
Volunteer children with their toy donation and cards
Toy-card-goods kit. Each package comes with a toy, card, sardines, noodles & cereal drink
Since there were only approximately 25 packages available, the first set of toy, cards & relief goods will be given to a poor flooded community in Makati City, through the NGO, Reach Youth Foundation. Watch out for more photos next week.
By the way, thanks to Ellie of Arizona, USA for your kind donation. May your seed come back to you a hundred fold. God Bless!
My son's handmade card
First of all, thanks to Vincent for your kind donation – funds you sent were used for art supplies. For other donors who wish to pitch in, kindly leave a comment on this page so I may recognize you for your generosity and send you constant feedback on the project updates.
Kids in action
My children were excited to make their cards and it did not take them too long to select a toy they’d be willing to part with, considering they have seen photos of children in flooded communities.
Posing with their toy for donation and handmade cards
I’m also excited that a preschool in the Western Bicutan, Taguig area has expressed willingness to collaborate on this project… keeping fingers crossed we may be able to invite their 40+ students for the toy donation and card making session this coming Saturday.
Kudos to NanoAid Disaster Relief for opening opportunities for people to unite and help in simple yet direct ways.
I am a mother to 3 blessed children ages 10, 7 and 4. Our family is very fortunate that we have been spared by Typhoon Ondoy which hit most areas of Metro Manila, Philippines last September 26. My heart goes out to those who were were afflicted by the storm, specially the children.
My sister and I have personally volunteered our time to assist in relief operations but I hope to involve my children and other fortunate children in giving their share to uplift the spirits of Filipino children affected by the storm. Here’s my project proposal -
Project Name: My Toy for Your Smile
Rationale: The project hopes to bring awareness to the power of sharing and social awareness among children. This will give fortunate children an active part of sowing into the lives of children afflicted by the typhoon by sharing their used/new toys and creating a card they personally made along with the toy to be given to the needy children. Essentially, this is a means to show the world that Even A Child Can Make A Difference.
Logistics, supplies needed:
Manpower:
Execution:
To kick off the project, we can start with $100 fund to purchase supplies for creation of cards and posters (board papers, scrapbooking materials, scissors, rulers,
Teachers and facilitators will be present to assist the children in card making.
pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, poster paints, ribbons, tassels, glue, adhesive tapes, etc. Of course, it will be better if we can also provide juice and light snacks (cookies or crackers) as incentive to kids for their participation.