The Phillipines

More than 10,000 people have been estimated dead since the devastating blow of Typhoon Haiyan. Being the strongest Typhoon ever recorded, Haiyan left major parts of the Philippines in ruins and millions of people displaced, without home or shelter.

The United States and Britain are two of many countries rallying military troops to deliver goods and support to the suffering victims. What could we do in the Bend community to help this cause? My first thought would be to instruct all teachers and all managers of companies and businesses to have a mandatory meeting in which the devastating effects of the Typhoon are displayed for students and employees to see. Awareness is key to a successful response. In these meetings people would see the great need for potable water, food, and money to be used for any need once there. We could set up a community-wide charity in which people could donate the mentioned items to a named organization called something like "Typhoon Haiyan Life Preservation Charity". There would be a big warehouse rented out for people to drop their stuff at. Each individual could register their name and email along with their donation to receive updates and shipping order status to feel more personal in their assistance and reassured that their donation makes it to the designated cause. Of course, a portion of the money donated would have to go towards transportation and practical causes to actually deliver the goods. A charity is very beneficial because it stimulates positive feelings in the giver, a sense of pleasure that one is doing good. Not only that, but charities can issue out tax receipts to donors ad also receive favorable income tax treatment. One very successful charity is called Water Missions International. They provide safe clean water to developing countries and disaster sites. Here are their cost statistics: Income Statement (FYE 09/2012) REVENUE Contributions Contributions, Gifts & Grants $7,367,272 Federated Campaigns $0 Membership Dues $0 Fundraising Events $204,897 Related Organizations $0 Government Grants $0 Total Contributions $7,572,169 Program Service Revenue $0 Total Primary Revenue $7,572,169 Other Revenue $-8,729 TOTAL REVENUE $7,563,440 EXPENSES Program Expenses $5,444,127 Administrative Expenses $422,706 Fundraising Expenses $669,248 TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $6,536,081 Payments to Affiliates $0 Excess (or Deficit) for the year $1,027,359 Net Assets $6,458,514 A neat invention for future disasters would be a shuttle car that scans huge amounts of destructed land and buildings at once and pinpoints the exact location of any human survivors. We could save lives that might not be saved otherwise.