George Washington University students are continuing their efforts to aid the millions of people in the Philippines who have been affected by the catastrophic Typhoon Haiyan.
Wednesday from noon until midnight, the Philippine Cultural Society will be hosting a fundraiser at Cone E. Island ice cream parlor, 2000 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to Catholic Relief Services, a nonprofit that assists disadvantaged people overseas. Patrons should identify that they would like a percentage of their purchase to go toward typhoon relief.
The funds collected will provide water, shelter kits, household living supplies and hygiene items for victims affected by the storm.
The Philippine Cultural Society also invites the entire GW community and friends to gather at University Yard on Friday at 6:30 p.m. for a candlelight vigil. The vigil will remember the thousands of people whose lives were taken by the typhoon and show support for the millions who have been displaced, injured or are still missing in the Philippines.
The student organization, which will be collecting donations at the vigil, has already received more than $900 from collections in the Marvin Center last week that will be donated to Catholic Relief Services.
Jacquelyn Branscomb, a resident of Alexandria, Va., whose parents were stuck in Tacloban City for days after Typhoon Haiyan, will be speaking at the vigil. Ms. Branscomb, a CNN iReporter, posted a picture of her parents online last week, with a plea for any information on their whereabouts.
After days of panic, she was able to make contact with her cousins on Facebook, who let her know her parents were alive and well. Her father was interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper last Friday, and he was able to send a message out to his daughter, after not having spoken to her since the typhoon. Ms. Branscomb’s parents are finally on their way back to the United States.
The heavily damaged city of Tacloban is now able to handle the flights carrying in food, water, medicine and other resources, but aid groups are still having difficulty reaching remote islands in the Philippines.
The Philippine government confirmed 3,982 deaths by Wednesday morning. At least 1,602 people are still missing.
“Coming together as a community is essential now more than ever,” said Philippine Cultural Society public relations officer Krisha Paz, a senior in the GW School of Business. “The Philippines needs us, our prayers and our help as they rebuild.”