In response to the continuing typhoon rescue efforts taking place in the Philippines, students and families from the Waldorf School of Garden City helped to organize a relief drive during the first week of December.

“The scale of the devastation wrought across the islands of the Philippines last month by Typhoon Haiyan (known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines) was overwhelming,” said Mr. Robert Ingenito, communications director at the Waldorf School of Garden City. “The Waldorf School community would like to express our thoughts and prayers to all the victims and survivors.”

The typhoon that hit the Philippines in early November was the strongest storm ever recorded at landfall – one-minute sustained winds were close to 200 mph.

First, students, parents and community members donated whatever loose change they had in their pockets into water jugs that were placed throughout the School. “This money was donated to the American Red Cross Typhoon Appeal to help people affected by the typhoon in the Philippines,” said senior Jaclyn Proctor. Miss Proctor manages Waldorf’s student snack stand and organized a special “dress-down day” where students paid for the privilege of wearing non-dress-code clothes to School. Through all these efforts, students and families raised close to $750 (or over 33,000 Philippine pesos).

Second, numerous Waldorf families brought-in gauzes, band aids, socks, canned foods and powdered milk. These items were sent to the Philippines through the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce. “My thanks to the students and families at the Waldorf School of Garden City for supporting this relief-drive,” said Ms. Nina Santos Becker (in above photo with Second Grade students), Secretary of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce which is based in New York City. “The items will be sent to Negros Island in the Philippines where they will be distributed to survivors of the typhoon.”

About the Waldorf School of Garden City: Founded in 1947, the Waldorf School of Garden City is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for students age three through twelfth grade. Accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the School provides a rigorous, liberal arts education. Emphasis is placed on a multidisciplinary approach to learning through a curriculum that balances the physical, artistic, social and intellectual needs of students. For more information about the School and its unique curriculum, call (516) 742-3434 or visit www.waldorfgarden.org.

About the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce: The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce has been serving Filipino and American businesses in New York since 1920. The Chamber fosters and promotes trade, commerce and investment, mutual welfare, and other business relations between the United States and the Philippines, and their respective peoples, and serves those persons and organizations having financial, trade and professional interests in either or both countries. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.philamchamber.org.