South Windsor Family With Relatives in the Philippines Collecting for Typhoon Victims

When a typhoon ravaged the Philippines Friday, Sarah Leonard’s family in their home in South Windsor could only wait to hear from relatives in the devastated country.

That’s not what they did.

Instead, the family mobilized to do what they could to provide aid to the country’s disaster victims, each in his own way. Her son, Jacob met with the Timothy Edwards Middle School principal about hosting a collection there and her older daughter is looking to do the same at South Windsor High.

At their home at 675 Graham Road, Sarah Leonard is collecting donations to ship to the Philippines. South Windsor residents are invited to contribute as well.

“My husband has family missing in the Philippines so it’s really near and dear to our hearts,” Sarah Leonard said in a telephone interview Thursday. “We just said what can we do right now? When you have nervous energy, you have to do something with it.”

Leonard’s husband works for Johnson & Johnson, which is offering matching grants to its employees and is shipping much-needed medicine to the area.

In addition to medical supplies, Leonard said her research has shown that instant noodles, mats and blankets are most needed. She’s also looking ahead to Christmas and collecting clothes and toys.

To those who would donate independently, Leonard said the group TindogTacloban is sending supplies directly to Tacloban and people in need of relief. Boxes marked with TindogTacloban can reach them more quickly, she said. Monetary donations can be made to Americares. 

Leonard plans to ship the boxes, marked with their contents through her husband’s aunt, who speaks the language and is in touch with churches in the area.

“Those churches may be the only thing standing in the area, so we will be replenishing those churches, which can disperse the boxes all over the island,” Leonard said.

She plans on continuing the collection through December.

Anyone wishing to donate may drop items at the Leonards’ house. Sarah will leave a box on the back porch for items, if no one is home. For questions, email Sarah.leonard@cox.net.

For more on donating, see this article.