Anglicans responded to natural disasters in the Philippines, West Sumatra and islands in the Pacific in September by donating close to $20,000 to The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) to aid those affected.
Individual donors and parishes have sent $9,166 to a fund for the Philippines, where a tropical storm unleashed torrential rains that flooded 80 per cent of Metro Manila and neighbouring provinces. Donors sent $9,498 to help people in the Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa and some of the smaller islands of Tonga where four tsunamis struck on September 29, following a massive undersea earthquake. Another $375 has been designated for aid in West Sumatra where a 7.6 earthquake killed more than 1,000 people.
Immediately after the disasters, PWRDF released an initial grant of $15,000 for relief efforts in the Philippines, and two initial grants of $10,000 each for victims of the tsunamis and West Sumatra earthquake. The grants and donations are channeled to the disaster zones through Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, a coalition of church-based organizations that responds to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. PWRDF is a member of ACT International.
Contributions to PWRDF’s appeal can be made online at the Canada Helps website and designated for “Philippines floods,” “Pacific tsunamis” or “West Sumatra.” For credit card donations, contact Ricky de Castro at (416) 924-9192 ext. 318 or at 1-866-308-7973. Please do not send your credit card number by e-mail or fax. Donations can also be sent to PWRDF at 80 Hayden St., Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2.
