When typhoons and violent storms hit the Philippines, entire communities are leveled. That’s exactly what happened on Sept. 28, 2006, when super typhoon "Milenyo" (international codename: Xangsane) slammed into northern and central Philippines, killing nearly 200 people and injuring hundreds. The storm caused extensive damage to homes and property, leaving thousands homeless and destitute. More than four million people were affected by the storm, many from poor rural areas.

A single mother’s home is completely destroyed by the typhoon.

In a slum community outside of Manila, homes are built just five feet above still water, and are so close to each other they share walls. When the water level rose during the typhoon, these homes were washed away and everything else in it – books, furniture, pots, clothing.

Immediately after the typhoon subsided, families gathered whatever they could find, including scraps of different materials, to construct makeshift shanties. But these are inadequate.

Identifying housing as the most pressing need, Food for the Hungry Philippines will completely build four homes and provide materials to reconstruct 50 homes. Many poor families from provinces just outside of Manila suffered the brunt of the typhoon, severely impacting their ability to protect and provide for their families. No outside help was available to rebuild, and Food for the Hungry staff quickly recognized that if they did nothing, there was no one else to stand in the gap.

With the help of local carpenters, new homes will be rebuilt.

Because many of these families were already living in abject poverty before the typhoon, losing their homes and belongings is too much to bear on their own. As a demonstration of Christ’s body bearing one another’s burdens, Food for the Hungry is glad to enter into this difficult time and provide homes through the help of local carpenters and builders.

This single mother will receive a brand-new home.

A single mother (pictured left) lost everything in the typhoon. Her home and her possessions were destroyed. She has two children; one is in Food for the Hungry’s Child Development Program and the other has cerebral palsy. This mother works very hard to provide for her children. But rebuilding her home is too much of a financial burden for her. With Food for the Hungry’s help, in partnership with local churches, this woman will be given a new home and she will see the tangible demonstration of Christ’s love.

The super typhoon may have left many communities in shambles, but it did not succeed in destroying the sense of unity and neighborhood among the Filipino people. Community members and church leaders rallied together to help those in need. Some of the single mothers volunteered to cook meals for those affected. The leaders in the community even developed a disaster preparedness plan so that people will be more prepared and safe should another disaster strikes. Watching people helping each other is a great victory and testimony of God’s redeeming love.

Food for the Hungry has been walking alongside the poor in the Philippines for more than 20 years through the able leadership of Filipino staffs. Many broken lives have been restored in some of the poorest communities in the Philippines as a result of effective programs, one of which is the Child Development Program.

In a slum community outside of Manila, homes are built just five feet above still water, and are so close to each other they share walls. When the water level rose during the typhoon, these homes were washed away and everything else in it – books, furniture, pots, clothing.

No typhoon can destroy the children’s inner joy and strength.

The Filipino people are friendly, warm and grateful. Some of the children who were in the Child Development Program and who are now in colleges and universities still come back to their communities to play guitar for church services, or help in different ways. This is another example of Food for the Hungry’s vision of community being lived out vibrantly.

God, through Food for the Hungry Philippines and local churches, is transforming many lives for His glory. Your partnership with us in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the Filipino people is immeasurable. Your prayers and financial support make all these possible.