Typhoon Ondoy help needed

If you are in Toronto and want to help, read on.

Below is an email I just received from Caroline Mangosing, executive director of Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture:

Dear Friends,

Not sure if you've been hearing in the news, but a huge typhoon has caused massive flooding, extensive damage, deaths and displacement in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces over the past weekend.

Our arts centre in Kensington Market: Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture at 167 Augusta Av. is hosting a Pay What You Can event on Saturday, Oct. 3. It's sort of a renegade Nuit Blanche event, and in lieu of paying admission, people can donate old clothes and shoes (all sizes), blankets, cough/cold/flu medicine, canned goods or even spare change. We're sending them back to the Philippines. Details are on the event's Facebook page. Collect some good karmic points while you enjoy "Poetry as a Second Language".

If you would like to drop off items during our regular hours, they are Wed-Fri 1-8pm, Sat 1-6pm Thanks so much in advance for your generosity!

If you are Manila and want to help:

Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, a Manila-based non-profit socio-cultural organization of which I am a member, is accepting donations for 'Ondoy' victims until Oct 3. Both in cash & kinds (clothes, towel, blanket, can goods, water, slippers...)Please call them for donation details. They also need volunteers to help pack goods. (0632) 5276083 or (0632) 4820512

If you are somewhere else, one of my favorite food bloggers, Marketman of Marketmanila has a similar initiative as well.