Dinner Raises $20,000 For Typhoon Relief
Monday, November 18 2013
Residents braved chilly weather on Saturday for a home-cooked Filipino dinner -- and a chance to support the local Fil-Am Association's typhoon relief efforts.
The line spilled out the door at the Burma Road Chapel. While it was cold and drizzly outside, there were piles of hot adobo, rice and egg rolls to be had inside, all prepared and served by members of the Fil-Am Association.
Kathy Leu sat at a table in the chapel with a friend, eating pancit, a traditional noodle dish. She said they came hungry and were happy to donate.
Leu: "The Filipino food is always so good, but [we] definitely wanna support the cause."
The buffet line packed the chapel’s small space. Most people didn’t stick around to eat, and walked away with stacks of to-go boxes for their families at home.
But that was just fine with Fil-Am members helping out at the dinner, like Roel Villamor.
Villamor: "It’s a small community, but it’s such a big heart. Everybody’s here. It’s amazing."
Fil-Am charged $12 a plate, but many people chose to give more. The group raised more than $20,000 at the event alone.
That’s not counting their other fundraising efforts. They’ve placed donation boxes around at grocery stores around town. And Fil-Am has formally asked Unalaska’s city council to consider making a contribution from their discretionary budget.
Former mayor and city council member Frank Kelty advocated for that donation at a city council meeting this month. He says Unalaska has a history of lending a hand after disasters, like September 11th. He says the typhoon hits close to home for Alaskans.
Kelty: "Unalaska’s one of the largest Filipino communities in the state, and if they [the city council] so choose to assist, I think it’s a great thing to do, especially with the devastation we’ve seen in the central part of the Philippines."
City council is expected to vote on a making a donation at their meeting next week.
Meanwhile, Fil-Am members will get together this week to talk about holding more fundraisers -- and to decide what to do with the money they’ve raised so far. At meetings before the dinner, they said they wanted to find a relief organization that would reach typhoon victims as quickly as possible. Some members of Unalaska’s Filipino community still haven’t gotten in touch with family in the hardest-hit areas of the country.
Concerned Donation Contributor on Thursday, November 28 2013:
I am asking for the Fil-Am of Unalaska to clarify and/or set straight wicked rumors that have made its way around the island. The rumor….That all the monies raised form the fundraiser dinner, went to the families of those belonging to the Fil-Am instead of being sent to a relief organization to help ALL those who suffered and are still suffering.
As a person who also has family member in the Philippine who were affected by this disaster, I donated several hundred of dollars because I believed in what you were doing and more importantly, I believed it was going to all those in need, not your families, specifically.
I, as well as others deserve to be shown some much needed accounting as to where all the monies raised for “The Typhoon Victims” of the Philippines. The dinner was to raise monies for the victims of the horrible typhoon that killed many, who lost what few belongings they had, and who are struggling to get a hot meal. Provided KUCB with documentation as to where these monies were sent and to whom...
Lauren Rosenthal on Tuesday, November 19 2013:
Thanks for your comment, "Concerned." Fil-Am is still working out where to send donations and counting up how much money they have raised. This story does not share that information, because as you point out, it is not available from Fil-Am yet.
KUCB will update readers and listeners on the fundraiser over the next few weeks. Please check back with us for the latest -- and thanks for reading!
All best,
Lauren
Forever Thankful! on Tuesday, November 19 2013:
Words can't express how much we appreciate all the support. I'm thankful to live in this community, small town with big hearts. Kudos to all volunteers. Most of all, A Big THANK YOU to the community.
Concerned on Monday, November 18 2013:
First of all the fundraiser was one of the best, BUT how does KUCB know how much is already raised when it has not even been finalized? Another thing is there has not been any specific organization that the Phil-AM has considered to donate yet just because they want to make sure they allocate the funds accordingly and to the correct group. Please do not take this wrong..thank you KUCB/Channel 8 for the support but please make sure the facts are correct before you post.