Cerritos Efforts Give to the Philippines Continues

While people in the Philippines are still recovering from typhoon Haiyan, efforts locally to provide relief to the victims continue.

A Philippine Disaster Relief Donation Drop-Off Drive is being held today from noon to 6 p.m. in the courtyard of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

The effort is organized through a partnership between the Filipino American Television, FilAm TV, Cerritos Mayor Pro-Tem Mark E. Pulido’s office, GK USA, Victory Cargo, Guardian Angels of America, and members of the community.

Donations of money and non-perishable food, toiletries, and clothes (shoes, blankets, etc.) will be accepted for shipment directly to International Needs Philippines, officials said.

The Performing Arts’ courtyard is at Center Court Drive North.

“This also is an opportunity to contribute in an alternate way by volunteering your time and resources to help receive, sort, label, repack, and load,” officials wrote in a news release.

Money donations will be accepted by GK USA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID 35-2361640).  Make checks payable to “GK USA” and add “FilAm TV Rebuilds” on the memo line, officials said.

A Filipino American Television plans to film donations and donors, follow the shipment to the Philippines, and document the disbursement of goods to those in need, organizers said.  The resulting TV special documentary will be televised on FilAm TV.

The news release provides the following information on the lead event organizers:

Mayor Pro Tem Mark E. Pulido for the City of Cerritos, is a Filipino-American who was elected to the Cerritos City Council in March 2011, and elected to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem for the 2013-2014 term by his city council on March 13, 2013.  Mark is a driving force in advocating and helping to make arrangements to support relief efforts for the Philippines.

GK USA (gk-usa.org) is the official representative of Gawad Kalinga International in the United States.  GK USA envisions “a world where the spirit of bayanihan lives.”  You can help make it happen by being a GK volunteer!

Gawad Kalinga International (www.gk1world.com) is at the forefront of providing immediate support to affected families.  Thousands of volunteers have signed up and joined Operation Walang Iwanan (“Leave no one behind”).  Despite many challenges in logistics, volunteers push their limits and are determined to bring food and aid to the disaster-hit communities.  Planning is already in place for reconstruction phase.  The recent emergency response is an important part of the Filipino people’s struggle in rebuilding their lives.

Victory Cargo serves the Filipino community in Southern California and Nevada with door-to-door “Balikbayan Box” delivery services to the Philippines.  Victory Cargo is the lead sponsor for cargo shipments collected at the donation drive.  Guardian Angels of America (www.guardianangelsofamerica.org) will provide a tax-deductible receipt for donations in-kind of goods only.  International Needs Philippines (www.ineeds.org.ph  or  www.innetworkusa.org) is a Christian organization devoted to empowering children & helping communities.  The International Needs network serves to over 30 countries worldwide (www.innetworkusa.org and www.innetwork.org).  Their recent Philippine disaster relief efforts brought medicine, relief supplies, and 2.5 tons of goods to families in need.  They will receive and distribute the in-kind donations in the disaster zones of the Philippines.