The Kapamilya Club, EMU’s Filipino cultural association, has been raising funds through an online campaign for underprivileged communities in the Philippines.
“This isn't happening through any sort of official organization; just some friends and family trying to fulfill a need,” Kapamilya Club secretary Ronia-Isabel Cabansag said.
After hearing that her extended family in the Philippines were buying groceries for families in need, EMU Kapamilya Club president Pauline Paulo decided to help out by raising funds locally to support the initiative.
The Kapamilya Club launched a fundraising campaign on April 27, through their Instagram and Facebook initially hoping to raise $100. To their surprise, however, by the next day they had received $300 in donations. By April 30, they had raised a grand total of $1000; $300 from the Kapamilya Club plus $700 external donations.
“This fundraiser was a mission of mine for a long time. My mom was the biggest influence on me since I was a child. She was the one who taught me to give back rather than to receive,“ said Paulo. "She has been helping struggling families in the Philippines for years now. She was inspired after she met Mother Theresa in college. We hope to become an example for many others.“
The Kapamilya Club is delighted by the quick and generous response to this fundraising campaign. Many of the donors were fellow affiliates of the Midwest Association of Filipino Americans (MAFA), a collective of Filipino student organizations across various universities across the Midwest.
The first fruit of this effort was the successful delivery of food to 200 families in the Maarat Brgy. Community of San Mateo, in the Rizal province of the Philippines. Food delivered included sugar, coffee, corned beef, rice, canned pork/beans, oatmeal, and cupcakes.
"Once we sent the donations, they did not waste any time. In 2 days, my family bought and distributed the relief goods,” Paulo said.
As a result of continued donations to the campaign, on May 6 the Paulo family announced that they had raised sufficient funds for another distribution. The details of this event are to be determined.
The Kapamilya Club is proud of this contribution they could make to help those in need.
The Eastern Echo welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.