Marylanders Doing Their Part To Help Residents In The Philippines
WHITE MARSH, Md. (WJZ) -- Residents in the Philippines are still sorting through the wreckage of their homes left after Typhoon Haiyan. Now, local organizations here in Baltimore are doing their part to help.
Rochelle Ritchie explains how local churches and even the entertainment industry are coming together to help.
A relief concert was organized to bring in much needed supplies to the Philippines. The organizers say the help will be needed for months, if not years, to come.
Boxes of food, clothing and even money are pouring into River of Life Church for the thousands of people in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan ripped the area apart.
"I was driving by, I saw the sign. I went home and started digging through my summer and winter clothes that I haven't used and thought, 'This is a great time to drop them off,'" said Dawn McBride.
Many of the members at the church's relief concert are helping others -- not knowing if their families are OK.
"Very much worried about my mother because she is already 76 years old. I don't know if she still has medicines available. And just the trauma... I think she's suffering right now," Juliet Lizardo said.
Much of the food and clothing donated will be shipped in three phases. And even though the roads are in deplorable conditions, the boxes will still be able to reach the victims.
"We have identified which ports are really operational and our home church is the hub of all the shipments coming in," said Pastor Benjun Uybengkee.
Several Catholic churches across the area are also pitching in to help. Special masses across the city saw thousands of dollars pour in from parishioners -- all to help the tiny country ripped to pieces.
While the help is vital now, family members say the need will continue to be crucial in the months or even years to come.
"How can we help them build their houses again and be productive citizens again?" asked Michelle Hendrickson.
The death toll in the Philippines stands at more than 3,000 so far.
Typhoon Haiyan could be the largest storm in history.
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