There’s an idea I got from a few other people the past couple of days.
A wedding we recently attended (and a beautiful one at that, congratulations, D&N) did away with wedding favours, the money which would have spent on them having been donated to UNIFEM. And a friend who attended the wedding as well informed Naomi and I that in lieu of presents she was going to buy for us, she was donating what she would have spent to World Vision.
So, if you haven’t bought Christmas presents for family and friends yet, here’s something you can do, and I am only suggesting that you do so for this charity organisation called Mercy Relief, which, as I’ve written, is undertaking the tasks of providing medical and logistical aid to the typhoon stricken areas of The Philippines.
Mercy Relief has identified several localities which require immediate help, where basic needs such as drinking water were not available until the arrival of the organisation.
Cash donations are much preferred over real goods, and you can direct funds as follows:
Mercy Relief, 11 Kheng Cheow Street #04-10 Riverside Plaza, Singapore 059608
DBS account, no.: 054-900493-6
After you’ve donated the money you would have spent on pressies, you can then write your friends and family little notes that go along the lines of:
Dearest Friend, Although I wish you the world, and would have given you a token of it by way of a present, I thought that it would mean a lot more to both you and I if the money that would have been spent on the said token be directed to the worthy cause of bringing Christmas cheer to the victims of the typhoons in The Philippines. I hope that you will also consider doing the same.
If you’re not the sort to give presents anyway, please just spread the word.
Mercy Relief’s Press Release, 15th December 2006:
Singapore’s Disaster Response Team sets to work in the Philippines
Friday, 15 December 2006Legazpi City (Philippines)
Mercy Relief’s 1st Disaster Response Team arrived in Legazpi City in the Bicol Region on Thursday, 14 December 2006.
Following an initial assessment around Albay, the 4-man team set to work in the community of Oro Sige village where there is a large number of children and aged needing medical assistance. Overnight, the team set up a makeshift clinic in s school and attended to more than 80 patients the next day.Most cases treated were gastrointestinal and respiratory infection, which are generally due to poor sanitation and contaminated water supply. The team will continue to monitor the situation to prevent any pandemic outbreak and will alert the local department of health should anything surfaces.“The majority of trauma cases have been dealt with prior to our arrival. It is now critical for us to maintain the healthcare of the community to prevent outbreaks of diseases because of the poor living conditions. These people survived a natural disaster and must not be allowed to suffer an epidemic†cautioned Laura Tham, Mercy Relief’s Disaster Response Specialist and a certified Nursing Officer.
Most parts of the city are still without electricity or reliable communication infrastructure. Residents who lost their homes are seeking refuge in schools and community halls. Local and international NGOs are rallying behind the local municipality to co-ordinated relief efforts so that aid can be given effectively to the deserving beneficiaries.
General medical supplies and food are being provided by the Philippines government and several foreign NGOs. However, much needed are blankets and clothing to keep the survivors warm during this monsoon period. Mercy Relief plans to be entrenched in the community of Oro Sige and will fan out to other nearby communities to help provide, maintain and improve their health needs.
Their 2nd Disaster Response Team, comprising 2 doctors, 2 nurses, a logistician and lead by another Disaster Response Specialist (a qualified paramedic) is expected to depart on Tuesday 19 Dec 06 to support the first team’s mission in Oro Sige village.
Mercy Relief is presently making an appeal for the public to support their relief efforts. Donations can be made via a secured online transaction at www.mercyrelief.org/give.html or by sending a crossed cheque made payable to Mercy Relief. Donors are advised to write their Name, address and contactable number so that the organisation can follow-up with a cheque. Cash donations can be made at Mercy Relief’s office, 11 Keng Cheow Street, #04-10, Singapore 059608 during normal business hours.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Frederick Foo
Executive Director, Mercy Relief
E-Mail : fred@mercyrelief.org
DID : 6332 6326
Mobile : 9011 6218
Technorati Tags: Mercy Relief, Philippines, Singapore, typhoon, typhoondurian
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