The tragic typhoon that hit the Philippines on November 8 has been devastating to the country’s citizens. The storm, a Category 5, affected close to thirteen million people and has a death toll of over five thousand people, which continues to rise. Yolanda, the name the storm goes by, is considered the strongest storm ever to make landfall, with gust of wind up to 235 miles per hour. Yolanda is considered a Category 3 natural disaster, which is the same as the earthquake in Haiti and the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. Now that the storm is over, the main concern of organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders is getting aid to those who need it. The U.N. has requested 301 million dollars in emergency response funds, but that will only cover the first six months of the storm’s recovery. More than two million people have been left homeless and still remain in danger because they do not have access to clean water and other basic necessities.

Almost a world away, Friends students have been moved by the typhoon. Jayna Jones ’17 says, “The typhoon was devastating, and I am glad to be able to help out through a fundraiser.” A club called Project Pearls is running the fundraiser. Project Pearls is a new club at Friends that started this year and is clerked by Grace Gannon ’15 and Hannah Caspar-Johnson ’15. “We started the club in hopes of helping children living in the slum communities of the Philippines. With the recent typhoon, we have refocused our efforts on the relief aspect.” Grace Gannon ’15 said. Hannah Caspar-Johnson explained, “After Thanksgiving break we have our first fundraiser, ‘Sole Survivor.’” Sole Survivor is a game where each player gets a name of someone who is also playing and they must eliminate that player by putting a sticker on him or her. When you get your person out, you receive the person that your person was attempting to get out, and the circle continues. Briana Lloyd ’17 said, “The game seems fun, and it’s for a great cause, so why wouldn’t you sign up?” This will be the first of two fundraisers throughout the year Project Pearls runs that will go to the relief of the storm.

Project Pearls meets on Day Two and is open to any new members or ideas. The fundraiser does not start until after Thanksgiving break, so there is still time to sign up and support this organization and their efforts. “The Fundraiser is expected to raise around five hundred dollars and will be a lot of fun,” said Grace Gannon. The money raised will go to Project Pearls, a non-profit based in the Philippines. Project Pearls will use the money to buy the necessities that were lost in the storm, like shelter, water and food. If you wish to donate or sign up for the game, please contact either of the clerks. To find out more about more about what you can do, please visit the Project Pearls website. (projectpearls.org)