Local volunteers jump into action to help typhoon ravaged Philippines

The desperation continues to grow in the Philippines where a super typhoon killed thousands of people, flattened entire communities, and left millions homeless.

Some University of Washington-Bothell graduates with a passion for helping others are using the power of social media to organize a fundraiser this week for relief efforts in the Philippines.

“I personally don’t like feeling helpless,” says Ben Wiselogle. “When you see these heartbreaking images of people suffering on the news, you can feel so far removed, like there’s nothing you can do.”

Wiselogle is a twenty-something who jumped into action after the massive earthquake in Haiti three years ago. As a volunteer for the non-profit group, All Hands Volunteers, he helped in the rebuilding effort there.

When the typhoon struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, he knew he had to do something.

“A few of our friends posted something on Facebook with the simple question, who wants to help?,” he says. “The response from the community was amazing.”

Sarah Syvertsen is one of those friends. Within minutes, she heard from small business owners, former classmates at UW Bothell, and others who were eager to help a country on the other side of the world.

“I put one thing on Facebook and it got such an amazing response. You see that people really do want to help and it takes a village. People realize you can’t do things on your own but together, we can make a difference.”

In the last few days, people from all over the Puget Sound region and around the world have been donating items that will be sold at a silent auction Friday night at Kell’s Irish Restaurant in downtown Seattle. All the money raised will go toward All Hands Volunteers and Oxfam, two organizations that have crews on the ground in the Philippines.

Wiselogle says through his relief work in Haiti, he learned that the worst images you see on television don’t begin to show the level of need.

“Unless you’re there and you see it, I don’t think we can really fathom what it’s like to be on a dirt road with only the clothes on your back, waiting for someone to contribute some sort of help,” he says.

And like with every other major disaster around the world, the news crews will pull out of the Philippines and move on to the next big story, but the need for help will still be there.

“Our attention span is so short and the news cycle is so fast. The Philippines will have years of rebuilding after this,” Wiselogle says.

He says the pain and suffering of the typhoon survivors will continue long after the story is out of the headlines.

The silent auction starts at 6:30 p.m, Friday night at Kell’s Irish Pub and Restaurant.

There will be a suggested donation of $10 at the door and 100 percent of that will go towards All Hands Volunteers.