[Post Update - 10.1.2009] We’re still collecting donations!  We’ll be at the B Here Art Exhibit and Concert on Monday at UC Irvine.  If you’re in South OC, drop by The Alley in Newport Beach, they’ll be collecting items for us until 11pm on Sunday!  Huge thanks to Daniela Bolzmann and The Alley for being so kind!

Fact: Gap between Hurricane Katrina & Tropical Storm Ondoy rainfall are even wider: Katrina = 350mm, Ondoy = 412mm. (via BakitWhy – for more storm related info, click here and here)

Typhoons, floods, and etc., occur on a regular basis in the Philippines.  Right now, we’re at the tail end of the “rainy season”.  When my lola (grandmother in Tagalog) was still alive and living in Pavia, Iloilo, she did everything she could to help her neighbors and friends at times like these.  She built and owned the only two story building in the entire city, so when the waters rose high, she’d take in whoever she could to keep them safe.  Even though a small river flowed through the city’s limits, Pavia was fortunate enough to only endure mild floods that although caused major and irrepairable damage for some, did not cause any casualties.

In the aftermath, she’d kindly have her staff help some of the locals rebuild or repair their homes and distribute clothing and canned food items from her stock that we (her 8 kids and 20+ grandchildren from the USA) sent over throughout the year.  She always requested we send her Costco-sized bags of Jolly Ranchers (mostly because they last forever…) and she’d walk around on the streets and pass candy out to the kids to give them that small bit of joy.

Thankfully, my family that’s in the Philippines is about 300 miles south, in a completely different province!  But, many So Cal Pilipinos aren’t as fortunate and have friends and family that have been affected.  In the next week or two, there will be a lot of local benefit concerts and events to help raise money for Typhoon Ondoy victims, but there is a much more pressing need to take care of the people by providing them with food and clothing!

Luckily, Island Pacific Markets in So Cal are collecting clothing and food donations and will ship it all to the Philippines as boxes fill up.  There are four locations: Cerritos, West Covina, Los Angeles, and Panorama City.  I will gladly collect items from you and bring them to the stores myself.

Items needed:

Clothing – for all ages, all sizes, and all types.  From underwear to tshirts.  Please keep in mind that the Philippines is a tropical country so jackets, sweatshirts, and anything heavy is not of use!  Shoes are also a good donation – from sneakers to flip flops!

Food - non-perishable is best.  The evacuation centers do not have any equipment to cook anything, so things that can be opened and eaten straight from it’s package are best.  Feel free to include some Jolly Rancher candies too ;)

I will be at the Chris Brogan event in Orange tomorrow night!  Bring me everything you’ve got!  If you’re interested in donating some stuff and can’t make it tomorrow night, leave a comment below or send us a tweet at @vitaminOC and I will arrange a time to pick stuff up!

OR, if you’d like to donate MONEY to the cause, check out SuburbanMama’s post (I love her post!) for details on where you can donate!

Please spread the info to your friends and family (FB event)!  Post it on Facebook, retweet, etc and so on!    I’ll post a better schedule of places you can find me to drop stuff off soon!