We are still in need of more goods be it in cash or in kind like clothes, toiletries, rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits, bottled water etc. We are also in dire need of more volunteers to pack and be deployed to distribute these goods. More volunteers are also being sent to the different araes to help clean up. So many things are needed to be done, so many items are still needed to be distributed, so many people still need our help.
Let us not be selfish, let us not turn our deaf ears to their cries.
The following contacts may be reached for information on donating, volunteering and providing/receiving assistance:
Sanggunian ng mga Mag-Aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila
Gio Tingson
0917/880-7427
Kacci Morales
0927/981-8811
Office for Social Concern and Involvement- Loyola Schools
Mary Ann Manapat
4266001 loc.5090 or 4261017
email: mmanapat@ateneo.edu
Office of University Development and Alumni Relations
Jun Dalandan
426-6001 local 4085, 4084
email: alumni@admu.edu.ph
Personnel Office
4266001 local 4128 (Cora)
or you can go directly to the Ateneo Covered Courts to drop in your donations and volunteer yourselves even your vehicles.
Are you a first time volunteer? Then read this:
Questions One Has About Volunteering for Relief Operations, But Was Afraid to Ask
by Pat Te Seng
1. I don't know anyone there!
- I didn't know anyone in the relief operations when I showed up. It's been a looooooooooong time since I was at the Ateneo. Just go there, head for the volunteer registration table and sign up.
If in doubt, look for a volunteer and ask how you can help. Someone is sure to point you in the right direction.
Don't be shy. Make new friends! You never know, you might even meet that special someone :D.
2. What should I bring?
- Yourself. Really.
No special equipment needed, just wear comfortable working clothes. A change of clothes and something to freshen up with would also be good things to bring. Ateneo's relief operation did ask those who want to help clean up stricken areas (clean up crews) to bring shovels and boots, but that's about it.
3. Which relief operation should I go to?
- It's really your choice. I went to the Ateneo because I studied there and saw that they were looking for volunteers in Facebook. But there were people from other schools (UP, etc) who went to the Ateneo operation.
You might want to go to somewhere you're familiar with, or the one nearest you.
4. What's there to do?
- A lot. One can be tasked to do the following:
Receive donated items - greet donors, accept and carry their donations for them, answer their questions, etc. Service with a smile! :D
Sort items - segregate donated clothes by gender (M/F), type (Top/Bottom), age (Baby/Child/Adult), or food by type (noodles/canned goods/biscuits/etc).
Pack items - stuff a set quantity of food/water/clothes into a plastic bag. Usually done assembly line-style, so people take turns putting different items into one bag. At the end of the line, there were people who tied the bags up (with the sheer volume there had to be people whose job was to tie the bags shut).
Last Sunday night we were putting out 45 bags per minute at one point. To put that in perspective, if we were able to sustain that clip, 2700 bags would've passed through our hands in an hour.
Distribution - People with cars/pickups/vans may be tasked to deliver the packages to stricken areas. Volunteers may be assigned to go with these people to help unload at the site.
Cleanup - Go to the stricken area and help clean out the area, including clogged drains, etc.
5. Is it hard work?
- I have to be honest, it's going to be manual labor, and in our case last night, have to sit/kneel on a hard floor to work because we had no work tables.
6. How much time should I put in?
- It's really up to you, as there is no time limit. It's going to understood that on weekdays, some people have work to do so they're going to welcome any help they can get.
7. Will I get fed?
- Not sure about the other relief centers, but Sunday night at the Ateneo, there was hot packaged food for the volunteers (donated) and bottled water/energy drinks/juice being passed out. There were people passing out Krispy Kreme stuff too.
8. I'm sold! But for how long will relief operations go on?
- Operations will go up to this Tuesday at least, and may be extended. Other organizations might do this all week.
8. OK, I'm here at a relief center. But I'm just standing here doing nothing, everyone else is busy
- That's fine. Ask people carrying stuff if you can lend a hand. Pick up discarded wrappers and toss them in the designated garbage pile.
And listen for an organizer to yell out "Volunteers! We need volunteers who aren't doing anything!!!!" Make your way to him or her, and volunteer, whatever that may be. :D
9. I really can't volunteer. :(
-That's okay! One can help in other ways: donating, or just by spreading word on how others can help.
You're probably reading this on Facebook, you can help disseminate updates about relief operations or calls for help in your status message. Every bit counts! :D
10. Wait! I wanna do those daring rescues and be on TV!
-Errr. No.
Please leave that to trained rescuers.
You think these are a lot already? No, we definitely still need more. So Please, pretty please give some more.
Or better yet, join us and feel really great about yourselves. ;)
There is a hero in all of us, so please, wherever you are, whatever it is you are doing...come out, come out!!!
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