This year, the Philippines has been struck by calamity after calamity, both natural and man-made. Typhoons, earthquakes and armed conflicts have left many of us feeling hopeless at the need of the millions of people who have been affected by these tragedies. When faced with the magnitude of what needs to be done, one may be led to wonder, “Can just one person helping out really make a difference?”
The answer is yes.
Read on and be inspired by the stories of these “ordinary” moms who have found ways to help others in need, and believe that you, too, can do something today to make a difference in the lives of others.
Related story: Where to Donate Breast Milk, Toys & Infant Needs for Typhoon Yolanda Victims
Jenny Ong, one of the movers behind Bayanihan Para sa Mag-ina
Jenny Ong, a lawyer, breastfeeding advocate and peer counselor, and mom to two kids 6 and 2 years old, shares what she and fellow LATCH members did:
“We organized Bayanihan Para sa Mag-ina, which is composed of a consortium of projects and a coalition of organizations who aim to support mothers and protect infants and young children during disaster situations. It promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding and proper nutrition for infants and young children.”
LATCH (Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help) is a hospital-based non-profit organization that offers quality lactation education and peer counseling services to mothers who wish to breastfeed. “We are actively involved in the back-end, logistics and organization of the Nanay Bayanihan Tent in Villamor Airbase,” says Jenny.
"We are also involved in The Cold Chain project, which aims to bring refrigerators and generators to affected areas in the Philippines, allowing them to have a place to store breastmilk which can be used to support the efforts of Nanay Bayanihan."
Based on LATCH’s experiences from previous disasters, Jenny says, “A lot of well-meaning donors are under the misconception that powdered milk is necessary. Mothers, infants and young children are most vulnerable in times of disaster and often, in evacuation centers, their needs are not addressed and they are lumped with the general populace. Our project ensures that these individuals are protected and their needs are addressed correctly.”
Jenny encourages others to help people who are victims of tragedies like Yolanda even in little ways: “…by focusing on the end-goal — to help the survivors.
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Pia Gan, rallied friends and family to help Yolanda victims at Villamor Airbase
Pia N. Gan, a self-described homemaker and mom to Tala, 3, and Jose, 1, says she wanted to “do something else other than giving donations.”
“We wanted to tell them that we are here for them and that they are not alone through simple acts of service, like carrying their bags as they get off the bus, or giving them a cheer, smile, applause or high-5.”
Gan says that in the beginning, she and her family sent relief goods for survivors in Coron, Palawan, through friends who flew there themselves to hand out the goods.
“When we learned the extent of the devastation, we asked around about how else we could help aside from sending relief goods. Then a friend told us about the operations happening at Villamor Airbase,” Gan expounds.
She and her family then shared this information with friends and family members whom they knew were also looking for ways to help, “So we pooled our resources to come up with hygiene kits and cooked food and water for 150 people,” Gan shares.
“We were amazed with the response of our family and friends. We exceeded our original targets,” Gan says. In the end, Gan and her group were able to donate 260 hygiene kits, boxes of sanitary pads, diapers, feeding bottles, kid’s clothes, underwear, slippers, snacks, water and cooked hot meals. They also went to Villamor Airbase to volunteer their services.
For those who are considering other ways to help people like those affected by Typhoon Yolanda, Gan suggests taking the following steps:
“First of all, pray for the whole nation during this time of need. Only through Him will we be able to rebuild lives, properties, etc. destroyed by Yolanda.
“Second, extend any form of help. No help is too small or too big, especially when it is from the heart.
“Third, be peacemakers in the process. I had my frustrations with a couple of government agencies stationed at Villamor Airbase but my friend reminded me that this whole operation is for our brothers and sisters and that I should set aside all the negative energies first.”
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Beng Feliciano and Maricel Cua, involved in breast milk donation drives
Beng Feliciano and Maricel Cua are the owners of Medela Moms Inc. Maricel has an eight-year-old, Lia, while Beng has three kids, Nico, 6; Summer and Carly, 3, and they are all actively involved in helping gather breast milk donations.
“We have been a responsible drop-off point for breastmilk donations for the three major milk banks of the Philippines (PGH, Fabella, and PCMC) — acknowledging donations and keeping mommies abreast of what happens to their donations,” Cua explains. “We also actively support with manpower, breastpump equipment (if necessary), and/or venue resources and milk-letting projects for the Yolanda victims.”
Cua says, “We believe that breastmilk is the best food for all babies, but most especially for those who are victims of unfortunate circumstances (orphaned, born prematurely, sick). “We also believe that mothers with babies should be supported, especially in these times, so, we help however we can to keep the breast milk flowing for them.”
Cua encourages others to help the victims of Yolanda and other tragedies in their own little ways. “We should think of what our strengths are, what resources we have and just be generous with not only material things but also time and prayers,” she says.
“A life is built over years and involves a lot of different items/needs — to have everything wiped out in a couple of minutes or hours is devastating. Therefore, attending to the victims’ immediate needs as well as rebuilding their lives will really require a lot of things/services. Just a little thoughtfulness will go a long way,” Cua shares.
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Michaela Tatad King, donated breast milk for the victims of Yolanda
Michaela Tatad King, production designer and mom to six-month-old twin girls, has been helping her friends and sisters who are organizing relief operations and medical missions. “I pass on information to others via social networking sites and assist them in looking for suppliers who can help with actual operations,” she explains. “We also donated Mingo meals and drinking water to areas in Leyte and Samar.” (More info about Mingo can be found here.)
Aside from these efforts, Michaela also donated breastmilk via MedelaMoms’ breastmilk drive.“I plan to donate more once I have enough stash to give” she says.
“I choose to help out this way simply because our brothers and sisters need it. I have been blessed with so much that the very least I can do is share it to those in need,” Michaela shares.“ Later on in life, I will be able to tell my girls that they, too, helped by sharing their milk to the babies who are typhoon survivors. I believe in breastmilk and its amazing ability to make babies healthier and resilient, most especially in times of stress and disaster.”
Michaela also shares that she and her family pray that victims “remain hopeful and resilient. We pray for those helping on the ground who materialize this hope to all the victims. We pray that relief operations run smoothly so that aid reaches everyone in need of it immediately. And we pray for the government, that it may be enlightened to lead the country and be prepared for inevitable disasters that may come our way,” she expounds.
Michela says she believes that possibilities are endless if everyone opens their hearts and minds. “Yes, the situation (in those areas) is so grave that these little things we do will remain little things. But imagine if we ALL did little things, if we ALL help out at least one person in need, we are steps closer to the rehabilitation of our country.”
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Laila Acain, donated ice boxes and reusable ice for the Yolanda breast milk drive
Laila Acain is a private employee, wife and mom of two boys, Tam, 4, and Boogie, 14 weeks. In addition to donating to organizations that she believes can reach out to those who are in need, she has also taken a very involved stand in the Yolanda breastmilk collection initiative that she chanced upon on Facebook via MedelaMoms and Breastfeeding Pinays.
“I know it's not much, but my breastmilk donation is very close to my heart as I only have a very humble stash in my freezer. Eyes closed, I reached out for 20 oz. and earmarked it for delivery to Medela House,” she shares.
Laila says it is precisely because of her breast milk donation that she came up with the idea of donating iceboxes and reusable ice. “I wondered about the logistics it will take to make this milk drive a success,” she explains.“ I was thinking the iceboxes and ice could help transport the milk and ensure that the effort of all those moms who donated will not be in vain.”
“I guess I was inspired to do all these because of my refreshed motherly instincts, brought about by the recent birth of my youngest kid,” Laila says. “When you're a mom, it pinches your heart to imagine any baby who will go hungry, regardless of the circumstance.”
Laila encourages other people to help out in their own way:
• “Volunteer — Villamor is a good place to do it; skill is not required, only the eagerness to help.
• “Share — I only came upon some of the ways and ideas to help via posts on Facebook.
• “Search — There are so many simple initiatives that make profound differences on the people they touch. Aside from the milk drive, my husband and I particularly like the 1000 Bearhugs project (@1000bearhugs), which aims to provide psychological support to young kids with the use of plush toy donations. The toy drive actually catered to kids from different calamities, be it the typhoon, earthquake or the war in Zamboanga.”
Indeed, there are so many ways we can help those in need — we just have to look at what we have and what we can do, and do it — reach out, help, give, pray, share, volunteer. The little we do goes a long way. In the words of Blessed Mother Teresa, one of the greatest “relief workers” who ever lived: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
Main photo from geniuspharm.com
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