Help needed for Montalban

"60,000 people are looking to us for help! People are getting sick. Immediate dangers now are infections, water borne diseases, dengue, cold and flu. Hunger, thirst and lack of basic goods are still a big problem. All houses were out of electricity and water and the stench was terrible.

It was shocking to see that nothing had been done by any big aid agencies there. We were still the only ones there.

People need to get started with their lives again. "

This excerpt is from an email about Montalban, one of KaEskwela's focus areas. Students from our partner schools there have reportedly lost their homes and everything else they own.

Help us help them. KaEskwela will be visiting Montalban on Oct. 18, Sunday and we hope to give donations to at least 100 families.

Although helping hands are welcome, what KaEskwela needs more are material donations. Here are some ideas on what you can donate:

Food: the usual canned goods, rice, but also those that do not need to be cooked-- biscuits, bread, fruits (eg, mga saging na di pa gaanong hinog/ nilagang saba)

Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toilet paper, sanitary napkins

Medicines and medical supplies: alcohol, betadine, medicines for colds/cough/ diarrhea/ skin infections, cotton, gauze

Beddings: blankets, pillows

Household items: cooking utensils, pots, pans, spoons, forks, plates, cups, glasses

Old clothes and new underwear

Slippers and shoes (no fancy footwear please)

Pails, basins

Diapers, milk for babies

Any other extras that you have at home are most welcome. You don't have to buy. Ransack your closets! We don't mind getting random, assorted goods.

Donations may be brought to these dropoff points:

1. WEEKDAYS 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM ONLY

Padilla Asuncion Bote-Veguillas Matta Carino Law Offices
5th floor, Strata 100 building
F.B. Ortigas, Jr. Avenue (Emerald Avenue)
Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600

2. WEEKDAYS, 10AM TO 5PM

Citrus Productions

Unit 1015 Medical Plaza Ortigas

San Miguel Avenue

Please text 0920-9534294 before going there

Cash may also be deposited to KaEskwela's account. Email us at kaeskwelavolunteers@yahoo.com if you want to give cash. We will email the account details to interested donors, and inform you what we bought with your money.

Deadline for donations is on Oct 16.

What to Donate

I just came from the grocery and was very happy to see so many people buying water, medicine and food for the flood victims. I really hope that this spirit of generosity will continue for a long time.

Anyway, here is a list of items that are urgently needed at this time:

• ready to eat food (crackers, bread, packed meals)
• potable water
• medicine (paracetamol, pain killers, cold and flu tablets, vitamins and medication for kids)
• disinfectant (isopropyl alcohol, betadine)
• canned food and noodles (but i think a can opener should be included as well)
• clothes and footwear that are still usable and in good condition. A volunteer posted this remark online after sorting donations: " Sana po, wag na natin isama sa donasyon ang costumes. Wala naman po sigurong gustong magsuot ng barong, Santa pants at Michael Jackson tops sa ganitong panahon ng delubyo." ( I hope that we do not include costumes in our donations. I don't think that anybody would want to wear barong, Santa pants and Michael Jackson tops at this point). For other dry goods, my friend said: "please give what can be used. wag naman yung mga photo albums(!) or other junk items na makakadagdag lang sa basura. Ang relief goods po ay hindi junk yard."
• money (but please make sure that you donate to a credible group. Philippine aid is one of them)