December 2013
COMMUNITY NEWS
RenfrewCollingwoodCommunityNews.com
Helping our fellow kababayans in the Philippines Max’s Restaurant raises funds for victims of typhoon Haiyan
by Faye Nalicat-Auyong with Julie Cheng Renfrew-Collingwood is home to many people from the Philippines. They are our fellow kababayans—our “friends and family from the same town.” “Our hearts and prayers go to all the victims of the typhoon. Words are not enough to comfort the heartaches and pains of those affected by this calamity,” says Catalina Estrada, one of the managing directors of Max’s Restaurant Cuisine of the Philippines located at 3546 Kingsway. Max’s Restaurant in Renfrew-Collingwood and all of Max’s 10 other locations across North America pledge to donate $1 for every whole Max’s Fried chicken sold. This is Max’s Project Hope – Be Strong Philippines, to help rebuild lives of those affected by typhoon Haiyan (also called typhoon Yolanda). All proceeds will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross. Robert Baxter and one-year-old son Liam gladly make a donation to the Pillar of Hope campaign at Max’s Restaurant. Photo by Julie Cheng
In addition to their North American campaign, Max’s is running a local campaign called the Pillar of Hope. You can donate $2 or $5 and put your name on the pillar. “We hope to fill the entire pillar and another wall with donations,” says Cecile Pratt, another managing director. “It’s nice to see people donating,” she adds. “It doesn’t matter how much. Everything helps.”
Photo: PoYang
A local group of volunteers has organized Zumba for the Philippines, at Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Sunday, December 8th, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. All the funds collected will go to the Red Cross. You can find all the details about the event on this Zumba event page https://www.facebook.com/events/609694295743017/?r ef=22events/609694295743017/?ref=22
“We hope this pledge, no matter how small, will help our kababayans,” says Catalina.
The Collingwood Neighbourhood House has a jar for spare change at the reception desk at 5288 Joyce Street. They are also holding daily bake sales Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Max has also donated raffle prizes and gift certificates in support of Philippines relief fundraisers. Many community leaders and Filipino associations in Canada have started fundraising events, including the Barangay NorthVan Filipino Community Centre and the Surrey Independence Day Council. Continued on page 3