Two fundraisers for Typhoon Haiyan Relief for the Philippines are planned for next week.
Canada’s federal government is matching 100 per cent of the funds raised by December 8, and the BC government will match up to $300,000 in donations made by BC residents.
Tree Frog Bistro staff have planned a special evening at the Marine Avenue restaurant on Monday, November 25, beginning with the first seating at 5 pm. Reservations are being taken and it is expected there will be three different times for the buffet.
“Jovelyn Parker, one of our co-workers, is from the Philippines,” said owner Marika Varro. “Just watching her when the storm was coming in was heartbreaking. Her family lives on an island and they are okay but there are so many people without drinking water or food.”
She said there is a community of Filipinos living in Powell River. “I felt I wanted to do something and all I can do is cook,” she said.
Filipino food will be provided in a buffet and the banquet room will feature décor from the island nation. Music and a slide show will highlight Philippines’ culture and its people. Everyone is volunteering their time and Varro has solicited food donations to help raise relief money.
Tickets are $25 per person with proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross. Varro expects to raise additional funds through a silent auction.
“So many people want to do something to help,” said Varro. “With the slide show, traditional food and music, they will leave having learned something about the Filipino people.”
Pebble in the Pond Environmental Society is hosting a fundraiser on Thursday, November 28. The money raised will be shared between two Typhoon Haiyan Aid projects: Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) and Action Against Hunger International (Action contre la Faim).
An evening of stories, music, poems, songs and other entertainment will be presented under the theme of Eco-Warriors for Climate Justice.
CaroleAnn Leishman, a society member who came up with the idea for the fundraiser, said, “We’re holding this event not only to gather together as much financial support as we can pool together to send to organizations on the ground who are desperately in need of funding now, but also to raise awareness of the effects of climate change and offer some hope for what people can do themselves to lighten their own carbon footprint.”
Leishman added, “There will be an entertaining and enlightening evening of music by popular local musicians who are coming together to raise their voices about climate change and other local personalities who will read stories, monologues and poems that will offer some hope and insight into where our future lies and how we can shift the course of the path we now find ourselves on.”
The extreme devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan proves that man-made climate change is causing more severe weather-related catastrophes around the world, Leishman said. “We’re seeing more of these extreme events including floods, hurricanes, storm surges, typhoons, droughts and cyclones. The frequency of these storms may have always been there in a lot of these regions but it is the intensity of the events and the extent of devastation seen in the aftermath that is increasing with each storm.”
Readers are invited to email [email protected] if they can contribute to the event or silent auction, or volunteer to help set up or clean up.
The event is at St. Joseph’s Hall at 7109 Glacier Street, beside Church of the Assumption. Doors open at 6 pm and presentations begin at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at Ecossentials or at the door. They are also available at Lush in Courtenay as there are some people from that area coming over for the event that includes a silent auction.
Typhoon Haiyan, which hit on November 8, is the second deadliest typhoon on record to hit the Philippines. Sustained winds were estimated to reach 315 kilometres per hour. It caused catastrophic destruction in the central part of the country that consists of more than 7,100 islands.
