Rummage sale held to raise money for donation shipments

Since the beginning of this week, the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) has been facilitating a rummage sale of select donations to raise money to pay for freight for the shipment of the remaining relief goods.

In the previous month, the relief goods for those affected by typhoon Yolanda were shipped to the different partner communities free of freight charges as part of LBC Foundation’s initiative to aid in relief operations. The free-freight program, however, ended on November 30, 2013, and commercial freight charges have since applied.

COSCA’s Coordinator for Community Engagement Joel Rosal explains, “Napakiusapan namin na mag-send ulit [ang LBC Foundation] ng donations noong December 4 o 5. Pero sa ngayon, lahat ng naiwan at yung mga pumapasok pa na donations, may bayad na ang freight [We were able to ask a favor from the LBC Foundation if we might be able to send donations free of freight charges last December 4 or 5. However, those left behind and other incoming donations would be charged at the regular freight cost].”

In order to cover these expenses, some donations turned over to COSCA and De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) that are not going to be sent have been made available to members of the Lasallian community in a rummage sale, comprised of old clothes and footwear. The items are priced between Php 5-20, and the money collected will be used to pay for freight costs.

The clothes and shoes for sale are those left over from shipments made in the previous month. Much of the footwear for sale was left out of the shipments because these were deemed not suitable for use in the affected areas as they included heels, sneakers, and even worn-out shoes.

The items up for sale do not include new clothes, food, and water, all of which will be shipped to the disaster-stricken areas as soon as enough money is raised. Old clothes that are of good quality have also been set aside.

Roughly P30,000 has been raised through the sale and via donations, and at least P20,000 more is needed, depending on how much more donations come in within the next week. According to Rosal, the operations need to be rushed and “everything must go” because the conservatories need to be vacated by next week, in preparation for the demolition of the North and South Conservatories.

Rosal also tells that the University’s partner communities have specifically discouraged the continued donation of water and old clothes, citing the need for food items instead. “Karamihan ng mga partners natin, punong-puno na ng tubig… Pati old clothes, sana wag na rin daw, kasi nga marami na ang dumating sa kanila [Most of our partners have too much water… they also discourage the sending of old clothes as they have already received a lot],” he says.

COSCA and DLSP, as well as DSWD are still accepting donations for those affected by typhoon Yolanda. Donations in kind can be dropped off at the North Conservatory for DLSP, and at the South Conservatory for DSWD. COSCA is also appealing for monetary donations so that the remaining relief goods may be shipped to the communities as soon as possible. These may be made through the University’s accounting office.

Donations made through the University are distributed to partner communities in Samar, Coron, Leyte, Antique, Iloilo, and Aklan.