An emergency relief fund set up in Oamaru to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan has raised more than $2000.
The fund was started by the Rotary Club of Oamaru, and club president Robert Gonzales, who was born in the Philippines said money could still be given through a collection box at Oamaru Hospital or by direct credit to the club's bank account Rotary Club of Oamaru Trust (Inc), ANZ Bank 06-0941-0175865-00.
Donations from the Oamaru public had reached about $2500 by end of Wednesday, he said. ''This includes a $500 donation from St Joseph's School and $400 from Filadelfios restaurant,'' Mr Gonzales said.
''With the addition of its own funds, the Oamaru Rotary Club Trust Inc sent a total of $3000 through to Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Philippines, who are working directly with typhoon victims in communities across a number of islands in central Philippines.''
More than 5200 people have died and 4.4 million have been displaced since the super typhoon hit the central Philippines on November 8, and Mr Gonzales said the fund would now aim to help people rebuild their lives.
''Relief efforts now report affected families are eager to get back and rebuild from what is left of their homes.''
He said a total of 4000 families were living in evacuation centre in the province of Leyte and it was the club's intention to give those families with a $20 toolkit including a hammer, saw, crowbar and nails.
