Help Leizel Rebuild her House for her family after Typhoon Rai

Dearest Friends and Family,

The Supertyphoon Rai that struck the Philippines has destroyed many homes and families overnight. BBC has reported that the typhoon sent more than 400,000 running for safety in the middle of the night when the typhoon struck and left the areas in complete carnage.

Leizel is a domestic helper who's spent many years working abroad to provide for her family back in Iloilo. Before the typhoon struck, her contributions back home have helped to build a new home for her family and furthered her family's fishery business back in her village. She's built everything by herself and never sought help, always willing to work hard for her family. The amount of energy that comes from her petite figure never ceased to amaze me, and the hope she had for a better future for her family is always inspiring to me.

Leizel has a big heart. Even though she came from very humble background, she adopted a child (her first child) and brought him up as her own. She was later blessed with her own daughter. She was planning to retire soon so she can make up for the lost time with her two young children and her husband, but the plans went awry in the span of a few hours with Typhoon Rai.

Despite the odds, Leizel's thankful that her family is safe. As someone who's worked with and known Leizel for many years now, she always face her challenges head on. As one could imagine, this is a very difficult time for her and her family. With COVID restrictions in place, she's hoping she can return soon to hug her children and husband.

I'm starting this fundraising campaign for her to help her ease the process of rebuilding her home so that her family has a roof over their heads, and for her to bless and help her village in these difficult times. All donations are wired directly to her bank account, and any amount of help is greatly and sincerely appreciated.

In this season of giving, may we not forget those who truly need our help. While we go about our Christmas and New Year celebrations, if we could spare a little of what we originally planned to spend as gifts to those who need water, food, and housing, it'll go a long way for them. If you would like to donate non-monetary supplies (such as clothes), please reach out to us at [email protected]. Let's build a better community together, regardless of borders.