Closure of Typhoon Haiyun Appeal Thursday 28 November

The box for the collection of clothes and other relief goods will close on Thursday 28 November. Donations have been sent to the New Heights Community Project (NHCP). Some of the donations have been air freighted to the affected island communities including devastated areas not commonly mentioned in news broadcasts. As free air freight space is very limited, some material is being shipped. The New Heights Community Project and the Filipino Association of Birmingham have expressed their warm thanks to all our staff who have responded so generously to their appeal. The collection point box will be available until Thursday 28 November and the final delivery of donations will be made on Saturday 30 November. As free air freight space has now been entirely taken, relief materials will be shipped to the Philippines in early December.

Peter Bridger would like to add his personal thanks to all those who have made such generous donations. This will be gratefully appreciated by those left devastated by this disaster. Thank you so much.

PS- You are warmly invited to come to a Coffee Morning & Auction at Burton Green Village Hall on Saturday 30 November from 10:00 in support of the Disasters Emergency Committee Typhoon Haiyun Appeal.

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Following the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Hayian/Yolanda, Peter Bridger in Human Resources is arranging a collection from University House (near the entrace to the restaurant) for supplies of all sorts including:

• clothes,
• baby clothes,
• towels,
• toys,
• soap,
• toiletries,
• hammers,
• nails,
• sewing kits (cotton thread and needles.)

Peter will collect donations from the box daily. Free airfreight space is available until 4 December, so he will do his last collection on Monday 2 December.

Peter said:

The media has given widespread publicity to the devastation caused in Tacloban but you may not be aware that a whole swathe of the central Philippines has also been devastated beyond the island of Leyte. The islands of Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Marinduque and southern Palawan have also been laid waste. The beautiful island of Bohol has not yet recovered from a recent powerful earthquake and its rugged topography makes rescue particularly difficult. Please remember that most Filipinos cannot afford insurance and that many in the path of the typhoon have lost everything. In many places there is no food, water, electricity and roads are still blocked.

My wife is Filipino and she has been in contact with friends who have relatives in the zone of devastation. Not only do many have no shelter, but many are farmers whose crops have been totally destroyed, or fishermen whose boats have been damaged beyond repair.

There is an urgent need for clothes of all sorts. My wife is in contact with the Filipino community in Birmingham who have chartered aircraft to carry supplies of all sorts free of charge. I am therefore collecting clothes, baby clothes, towels, toys (but not large toys) and any other items that might help destitute families get back on their feet. A large collection box will be situated in University House Reception for surplus items and I will pass them on to be sent to the Philippines. Please give generously."