By Michael Soh
An Ocean Reef family will be hosting a garage sale on the weekend of April 5-6 to raise funds to build houses for victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
Margaret Laundy was inspired to bring her fundraising efforts to her own home after witnessing first-hand the wreckage caused by the catastrophe.
She and her daughters Sarah and Bernadette accompanied Churchlands couple Ruby and Mike Soh and their Buckets For Jesus team on a two-week mission to the Philippines in January, bringing relief to some of the worst-hit areas.
Mrs Laundy said that she had been deeply affected by what she witnessed during the mission.
“I have never seen so many tarps in my life. I witnessed thousands of families living under them or at best a sheet of tin. Their eyes glowed with thanks to receive an empty cardboard box,” Mrs Laundy told The Record.
Mrs Laundy said the favourable exchange rate of the Philippine peso compared to the Australia dollar enabled her to purchase many provisions for the poor during time in there.
The Laundys have previously hosted a fundraising garage sale for people affected by natural disasters, with their first one raising $10,000 for Tsunami victims in 2006.
“The garage sale is a great way of generating cash with nil overheads,” she said.
“I’d like to better this. With the generous donations of sellable items which are pouring in from an army of people, I am very encouraged and hopeful.”
As previously reported in The Record (‘After the media have gone’, February 19), Buckets for Jesus founders, Mr and Mrs Soh, recently launched their Adopt A Family Appeal, aiming to provide new homes to affected families for the low price of $2000-3000.
After seeing the poor living conditions of Typhoon victims, Mrs Laundy thinks building new homes for them would be life-changing.
“A purpose built house that the Adopt A Family Appeal proposes will make such a difference to the quality of life to these homeless but hopeful families,” she said.
For their garage sale, the Laundys are seeking items that are clean and in good working order, such as housewares, personal items, gardening tools, books and stationery, office items and soft furnishing.
Volunteers and donations of goods are welcome and refreshments will be provided.
All proceeds go to Buckets For Jesus’ Adopt A Family Appeal (all cash donations are tax deductible).
For enquiries or to donate goods or volunteer, contact Margaret Laundy 0408 689 873.