The stories coming out of the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan are heart rending and can make observers from thousands of miles away feel helpless. But there is one thing you can do to help survivors of the storm: per this Slate article, you can send money. Money keeps the wheels turning, and like the article said, sending goods is well-intentioned but clogs things up. So here are some groups to open your wallet for to help out.
Philippine Red Cross: Instead of giving to its American cousin, you can give directly to the Philippine Red Cross, who was on the ground from the very start due to their location. You can send money to them here.
Community and Family Services International: Another organization based in the Philippines, CFSI has been doing humanitarian work in the Philippines for over 30 years. They don’t have an internet donation page, but you can donate directly to a bank account they have set up to take donations, they just ask for an email to headquarters [AT] cfsi.ph with your name and address and the amount you donated.
Account Name: Community and Family Services International
Account Number: 6734-0077-63
Bank Name: BPI Family Bank
Bank Address: Legaspi-Amorsolo Branch, G/F Filomena Bldg., 104 Amorsolo St. Makati City, Philippines
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Gawad Kalinga: Another Philippines-based charity group, Gawad Kalinga is delivering food packs good for 4 to 6 meals per day for a family of five to survivors. You can help them afford the rice, canned goods and water by donating here, or donate to reconstruction of destroyed or damaged homes.
UNICEF: The UN Children’s Fund works primarily to help children affected by the storm, of which there are 4 million in this instance, providing access to water, hygiene supplies, food, shelter and a safe environment.
The UN World Food Program: Another UN relief effort, this one focusing on getting food to survivors, which is imperative in the days after the storm. Their website says a $100 donation gets 1,000 packs of biscuits to storm survivors.
Doctors Without Borders: The group of hero doctors, like something out of a Stallone movie if he saved lives instead of shot people, shows up wherever disaster hits to provide medical assistance and expertise. You can either give to the group generally or just to Haiyan relief efforts, although they say that unearmarked funds give them the most flexibility.
Habitat For Humanity: The Jimmy Carter-endorsed home building effort is raising money to get 50,000 cleaning kits, 30,000 shelter repair kits and 10,000 core houses to provide shelter for families whose homes were destroyed by the storm.
Closer to home, you can head to Ditmas Park Filipino restaurant Purple Yam (1314 Cortelyu Road) for a fundraising brunch on November 17, with $40 prix-fixie meals taking place from 11am to 4pm. Doing good will never taste so good.