Local woman takes donations for Filipino flood victims
Some of those affected are her relatives
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Contributed photo
Children from Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, visited by Child United. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam, of Lynnwood, is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Contributed photo
Kids hold a Child United banner after relief distribution. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam, of Lynnwood, is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Contributed Photo Christine Umayam (left), of Lynnwood, is a finalist for the Citizen Service Before Self award for her work with children around the world to end the cycle of poverty. She is one of 20 finalists from a pool of hundreds of nominations from across the country. Finalists were selected by Medal of Honor recipients who will select three of the 20 finalists to receive the honor. Recipients will be announced March 22. Photo received March 9, 2011.
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Contributed photo Child United gives a wheelchair to a teen born without legs and arms. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam (right), of Lynnwood, is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Contributed photo Child United Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam, of Lynnwood, gives a bag of relief supplies to a 2009 disaster victim in Binan, Laguna, Philippines. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Umayam is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Contributed photo Child United Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam, of Lynnwood, at Calsib, Aguilar, Pangasinan with children. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Umayam is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Contributed photo Picture of Smokey Mountain, a garbage mountain city in Tondo, Manila, Philippines visited by Child United. Child United is working to help flood victims in the Philippines. Founder and Executive Director Christine Umayam, of Lynnwood, is originally from there and has relatives missing in the aftermath of the flood. She is collecting donations of clothes and toiletries to send to the Philippines.
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald Christine Umayam kneels on a overflowing box of shoes to pack it down as she waits for tape to seal it Sunday morning. Umayam and other volunteers with Child United were boxing up care packages for children in Haiti and the Philippines. Photo taken 022011 Local - Child United
Last week, she saw images of homes and trees in waist-deep water in the town many of her relatives call home.
More than 2 million people have been affected and at least 85 people died in the heavy floods that swept through the Southeast Asian country.
August is the wettest month in the Philippines, but the heavy rainfall was aggravated by a recent tropical storm in the area.
Umayam, who was born in the United States to Filipino immigrants, has seen many floods and typhoons in her parents' home country over the years.
This year's the disaster is taking a heavy toll.
Umayam is the founder and director of Child United, a nonprofit that helps children around the world get education and provides relief in case of disasters. When something bad happens in Haiti or the Dominican Republic, Umayam mobilizes her network of volunteers to collect donations, pack them into boxes and ship them to the struggling nation, where local partners help distribute the supplies.
The organization is active in the Philippines, where Umayam sent supplies in past years and has a large network of helpers on the ground.
Umayam is planning a fundraiser on Aug. 18 where volunteers will sort donations and pack them into boxes.
“It's a lot of work to pack 200 boxes,” Umayam said.
Her goal is 225 boxes, actually. That's how much a large shipping container will fit. She also hopes to raise $10,000 to cover shipping and other associated costs.
Umayam's home off Ash Way is one of the collection points. She sat on her porch on a recent weekday afternoon when Betty Winthers dropped off a few bags of donations.
Winthers, who also lives in Lynnwood, heard about Umayam's organization on TV. The plight of the flood victims resonated with her. She brought some clothes and bedding.
“This is a good cause,” she said. “I saw the pictures (from the Philippines), and it was just devastating.”
Umayam met many members of her large extended family for the first time during a family reunion in May. Some of them are now among the thousands displaced by the floods.
“They are counting on me, that's for sure,” she said.
How you can help
The fundraiser to help flood victims in the Philippines is planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 at Country Village, 23718 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell. If you want to volunteer or drop off donations, email christine@childunited.org or call 50D-ONA-TION. Blankets, towels, pillows, toiletries and monetary donations are needed. To make a financial donation, go to http://childunited.com.