Basin residents support Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts
A resident sits on debris in typhoon-hit Leyte Province, Nov. 12, 2013. The United Nations said it had released $25 million in emergency funds to pay for emergency shelter materials and household items, and for assistance with the provision of emergency health services, safe water supplies and sanitation facilities. It's launching an appeal for more aid. (Lui Siu Wai/Xinhua/Zuma Press/MCT)
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake resident Dan Durbin and his wife Gina have been keeping a close eye on news coming out of the Philippines for the past few days, ever since Typhoon Haiyan hit parts of the country last Friday.
Durbin said they have been following disaster relief efforts, especially in the Leyte province. Durbin said his wife is originally from that region of the Philippines.
In fact, they have been waiting to hear from some of her family members out there, he said.
"Last night we finally got a call from family, they had to go quite a ways from where they lived to get phone reception," Durbin said.
The Leyte province was one of the areas hardest hit during the typhoon. The province's capital city, Tacloban, was almost entirely destroyed, according to a McClatchy-Tribune report.
Durbin said the couple sent some emergency relief money to their family following the disaster.
"We sent money so they can eat because they don't have food or water," he said. "They don't have anything out there."
Durbin said they have also been thinking of ways to raise money to help other residents of the Leyte province. They recently got together with another area resident who also has ties to the Leyte province, he said.
Together, they decided to host a fundraiser at the Moses Lake Elks Lodge on Friday.
Durbin said there will be a variety of Tejano and other types of music starting at 7 p.m. There is a $5 cover to get into the dance, he said.
People can purchase dinner plates for $6 as well, he said. Dinner will include a variety of Filipino and Hispanic dishes he said.
Donations will also be accepted during the evening, Durbin said. All the funds will go to two different communities in the Leyte province, he said.
"This isn't to help our families, this is now to help other residents in that region," Durbin said. "The money will go to the mayors of the two communities and they will use it for medicine, food and water."
The two communities are where his wife and friend are from, Durbin said. One of those communities is Abuyog, the largest town on the island of Leyte in terms of land area.
He said people can find out more about the specific communities during the fundraiser.
For more information about the fundraiser, or where the donations will be going, contact Durbin at 509-750-0386.