November 22, 2013
The Associated Press is reporting that the confirmed death toll from Typhoon Haiyan has now exceeded 5,000, with 1,611 people still missing. Because many bodies were unidentified before being buried in mass graves, it is feared that most of those still missing may be among the dead.
Relief and recovery efforts are beginning to take hold, and those who have been without the basic necessities of life are now being helped. CAMA continues to partner with CAMACOP and other relief agencies, setting up distribution centers in the affected areas. Efforts are under way to rebuild some of the Alliance churches that were severely damaged or destroyed.
The Westwood (C&MA) Church in Orlando, Florida, is coordinating a massive effort to provide meals for those impacted by the Typhoon. In a recent report from the C&MA’s Southeastern District,
Through William Lowry, the Executive Director of No Child Hungry, who attends Westwood Church, we have been involved in several food-packing events in the past, preparing nutritional meals to be distributed to children in Central Florida and in Haiti who would otherwise go hungry. We now have established a goal, working through CAMA Services and with No Child Hungry, to prepare and send meals to the Philippines. We would love the Southeastern District churches to join us to raise the needed funds and do the actual meal packing for the first shipment (256,000 meals) on December 15th. We have prepared a fund-raising letter for our people to use with their employers, neighbors and friends.
There is a great sense of urgency. The devastation and the need is so great. At $.30/meal, we can feed a lot of people for hardly any sacrifice on our part. Will you partner with us as we thank God for His amazing provision for us, and then generously share with those who have nothing?
If you live near Orlando and would like to help support the Westwood Church’s efforts, please contact Cathy or any of the Westwood Church staff at 407.295.4381 or [email protected].
Make a Donation
CAMA, the relief and development arm of The Alliance, is currently responding to this crisis with immediate aid. To help support these efforts, visit CAMA’s website and make a donation to CAMA’s Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund.