How to really help disaster victims

Last night as I came home from work, the news was on TV. My three-year old daughter approached me with a sad and questioning look in her eyes. "Mommy, wawa ung small bata, wala na bahay". I told her, "be thankful to God we have a home and we are safe." It's so hard to explain to a toddler why tragedy strikes, but I guess it is easier to explain why we need to help.

As I write this post, the death toll over the recent super typhoon "Yolanda" (international name "Haiyan") is nearing 1,800. Also, social media has already been flooded with posts whether it be sympathy for victims, gratitude for being spared, guilt for not being in the scene to help out, or showing ways to actually help out. This entry may be just an addition to the barrage of posts/tweets I have mentioned. But if this contributes in some little way to alleviate the sufferings of my countrymen, it's worth a shot.

In my own humble opinion, here are just some ways on how to truly help:

1. Pray as a family. No amount of relief effort or nobody could give better comfort to someone who has lost almost everything than God Himself. Let's pray for healing and comfort for these people affected by the recent disasters.
2. Don't let the guilt of not being able to directly help affect you. Instead be a productive member of society (whether you are a student, a mom, or part of the corporate work force) by offering our work and sacrifices for the victims. Patty Laurel puts it better in this post.
3. For donations in kind, give those that will really be put to good use. We all mean well, but take a step back and think before piling up boxes of old shoes, clothes, basically your old stuff. Will they be able to use those stilettos, gowns, costumes, etc.? Also with regard to formula or powdered milk, just think, they have no access yet to clean water and sanitation in their area, it might just do more harm than good. For breastmilk, they should be passed through the proper channels. Let the volunteers help the women lactate for their babies. For more information, please see related posts here: http://www.chroniclesofanursingmom.com/2013/08/compilation-of-emergency-posts-again-no.html and here: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2013/11/how_to_help_typhoon_haiyan_survivors_in_the_philippines_the_only_donation.html  
4. For monetary donations, just make sure they go to reputable agencies which will directly channel them to relief operations. Please check http://www.wheninmanila.com/verified-legit-ways-to-help-super-typhoon-haiyan-yolanda-victims-how-to-donate-or-volunteer-with-legitimate-organizations/, which has quite a comprehensive list.
5. Cut down on your Christmas shopping/party funds and instead use these to help, like this nice petition at change.org http://www.change.org/ph/mga-petisyon/all-filipinos-and-those-who-love-filipinos-scale-down-shopping-this-christmas-give-each-other-hand-made-gifts-and-gifts-of-deeds-let-s-channel-our-gifts-to-victims-of-typhoon-yolanda-and-the-recent-earthquake
6. Avoid doing any of these apathetic moves: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/15926503-after-haiyan-10-things-filipinos-shouldnt-do-on-social-networks

Lastly, lighten up and be grateful for the roof over your heads, the dry clothes on you and the warm embrace of your family. If you feel heavily burdened right now, just put yourselves in the shoes of our countrymen who have lost almost everything, and you'll realize just how truly lucky you are.