Help for Nuñez Family after Typhoon Odette - Rai

Hi, my name is Michael Albrecht. In the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Odette / Rai, I'm raising money for my Mom's (Nuñez) family in her hometown of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, in the Philippines. Fortunately, Typhoon Odette / Rai was downgraded to a Category 4 typhoon before making its fourth landfall in Padre Burgos on December 16th at 5:40 PM local time, less than one kilometer from the Nuñez family homestead located on the ocean  shore. 

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Background: My Grandpa Santos and Grandma Pilar Nuñez first lived on the homestead parcel as squatters from 1949 until my Mom, Lourdes, purchased the parcel outright in the 1990s to ensure my family would always have a homestead. The Nuñez family homestead is roughly 1/4-acre and sits on the ocean shore of beautiful Sogod Bay. The homestead consists of four separate homes and a small 6'×4' family-operated convenience store. These aren't large houses, even by Philippines standards. The homes are multi-room bamboo huts built on concrete slabs. Typical construction is a 3'-6' tall base-wall made of cinderblock which support bamboo / nipa grass / plywood walls. Bamboo or hand-hewn timber rafters support a combination of corregated metal and nipa grass roofing material. 

My family comes from a humble background of blacksmiths and farmers, and are by no means wealthy. 14 of my Mom's 16 siblings where born on the Nuñez family homestead, and several generations of Nuñez family members live here still. Both of my Grandparents passed away on the Nuñez family homestead; Grandpa Santos of turburculosis in 1993, and Grandma Pilar of COVID-19 in 2021. Currently, my aunt and her family, two uncles and their families, several cousins, and second cousins live there; but, I honestly don't know the exact number, as we've always moved in and out as life circumstances change. In fact, because of the devastation, some family members may return just to help rebuild.

Situation: I can't really stress the severity of the situation on the ground -- think "shock & awe" devastation on a massive scale, with no reliable access to food, clean water, or shelter. No power, limited connectivity to the outside world, with no place to go, because it's their home.

If world events permitted, Sarah and I would already be there to help in person. Times being what they are, we simply can't be there; so we're seeking to raise money to help them with their immediate survival needs of food, water, and shelter. Your donations will help give my family the ability to meet basic necessities, and give them the opportunity to pick up the pieces and rebuild their homes out of the chaos and devastation.

I'll post updates as they're made available both here and on social media. Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, love, light, good vibrations, and donations! 

❤#HelpNunezFamily