Felix Y. Manalo Foundation – INC Giving Project

Stephanie Dinogan from Omaha, Nebraska arrived early at the Omaha house of worship. She had organized blood drives before but this time it was different. This time she walked in not just as the coordinator but also as one of the hopeful donors.

After meeting with the Red Cross representative, Fiona Sullivan and the Drive Director, Rob Knobbe at 7:00 AM Central Time, Stephanie and the other volunteers took their spot at the registration table and by 8:30 AM, the scheduled donors began to stream in, punctual and very eager to be part of a special event.

photo_2016-05-17_19-20-30 — Donor and Blood Drive Coordinator in Omaha, Nebraska, Sister Stephanie Dinogan

“It’s my first time donating! When I look back on this moment I’ll remember uniting with my brothers and sisters in faith in this remarkable effort to save the lives of others.” said Sister Stephanie Dinogan

Donors came in all ages. Elderly sisters bravely donated once again and new high school graduates lined up to do their part. There were young members as well, too young to donate but not too young to help out. They encouraged everyone to donate because they were the product of 16 blood transfusions as a little baby.

Anytime we leave with more blood than what we came with, it’s a success…I would love to come back and do this again. And you know the saying that one donation can save up to 3 people? So, even if you think you could have gotten more, even 30 people could save 60 people. – Rob Knobbe, Blood Drive Director, Omaha, Nebraska.

“Everyone said the same thing, we were literally donating at the same time as hundreds maybe even thousands of other people,” said Stephanie Dinogan.

In Manitoba, Canada, donors also gathered to donate blood. Those from outside the city of Winnipeg also drove in to support this activity. They joined the thousands of members of the Church of Christ from across the North American continent that, at that moment, were doing the same thing.

“From the moment we walked into the blood bank, the excitement and anticipation from first-time donors up to regular donors, were truly felt. Up to 50 donors can help 10 patients in cancer treatment, and by the Church contributing to this cause, they are helping in supplying that need.” – Zandrhea Pelimiano, Calgary, Alberta

Meanwhile, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, James Sabayo was prepared to donate blood for the first time. His dad, Roland Sabayo, a leukemia survivor inspired him and a few others in the congregation to also do their part.

Listening to the experiences of those whose lives were affected through the kindness of donors’ fueled members with inspiration as they arrived to donate blood.

In the United States, blood banks saw the same overwhelming response from volunteers eager to do their part.

RebeccaAssistingBroJojoMadlangbayan — Rebecca Ruitenberg, Community Blood Services – Donor Tech, Elizabeth, New Jersey helping Brother Jojo Madlangbayan.

“It’s really good [for organizations to host blood drives like this one]. We can’t do our job if you guys don’t do your job and have the blood drives. And so, if you don’t have blood drives, we can’t collect our product efficiently and at such a quantity as we’ve gotten today; [which] is amazing. – Rebecca Ruitenberg, Community Blood Services – Donor Tech, Elizabeth, New Jersey

Many walked in with various reasons as to why they wanted to help.

“My mom, when she was alive, she had a few blood transfusions. If you can donate [blood] and it can go to someone who really needs it, then unknowingly, you’ve saved someone’s life. It’s great, it’s like I’m literally saving lives.” Blake Zaide, Chicago, Illinois

“This is a very noble activity. As a blood transfusion recipient myself, I know very well the importance of donating blood, that’s why I did not hesitate. – Dr. Charlene Vargas, Local Coordinator, Orlando, Florida.

“I donate regularly because growing up I knew my grandma needed blood transfusions. I know it’s needed by a lot of people and it’s not hurting me in any way. So if it doesn’t hurt me anyway and it benefits people who need it, Why not?”– Christine Valencia, Markham, District of Eastern Canada, 4th time blood donor.
“I remember that there were times Myla was needing blood transfusions almost every week and platelets transfusions every 2 to 3 days! Seeing brethren nationwide, in the US and Canada, makes us so happy – knowing many just like Myla before, will benefit from this drive!” – Leyna Cunanan, Alameda, California

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After her daughter Myla was diagnosed with Myeloid Sarcoma, a solid tumor composed of immature white blood cells, Leyna has taken countless trips in and out of the hospital and knows all too well what events like this can do for her daughter and for the community. But what was most inspiring to her was when she saw this flyer on the Asian American Donor Program’s Facebook page.

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“We are so excited. I just saw a flyer of a patient with our Iglesia Ni Cristo address on it.”

The Asian-American Donor Program is dedicated to increasing the availability of potential stem cells donors for patients with life-threatening diseases curable by a stem cell transplant. Because of the shortage of registered donors in different ethnic groups, many of those diagnosed run the risk of never finding a match — making events like the ones sponsored by the Church Of Christ, through the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, not only timely but life-saving.

Blog-Myla-002 — Sister Myla with her siblings volunteering for another Bone Marrow Drive. Since being diagnosed, she and her family have actively campaigned for more people to sign up as Bone Marrow Donors.

“Myla and our family hope that with the bone marrow registration drive many patients will find their match.” – Leyna Cunanan

So, at many of the Blood Drive sites were also tables for individuals to register to be a Bone Marrow Donor. Be the Match, the organization that coordinates Bone Marrow Registration in the US, however, was not able to send recruiters to all the different sites of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, so individuals like Vivian Abernathy trained some of the young volunteers from the Church to go out to different locations themselves and help register Bone Marrow Donors.

“Those types of volunteers for us are like gold. They are so important because today, we were able to reach out to different spots that INC is doing blood donations that we weren’t able to be at. We are so blessed to have you (INC) to do that.” –Vivan Abernathy, Be The Match Coordinator, who worked with INC brethren from the local congregations of Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, and Glendale at Children’s Hospital LA for the Nationwide Blood Donation & Bone Marrow Registry Drive

In total, thousands of members throughout the United States and Canada united together in blood donation and bone marrow registration drives hosted at 137 different sites.

“I think we all felt almost at peace that we are all in the same Church, staying united with the Church Administration…. and also having fun doing it!” – Cecille Assim, Burnaby, British Columbia

The event was especially important for the Cecille Assim, an oncology nurse and daughter of a cancer survivor. The event allowed her and husband in Burnaby, British Columbia, her sister Camille in Edmonton, Alberta and her parents and brother in Ottawa, Ontario to participate despite the distance between them.

“We were all texting and sharing pictures all day! My sis and I even wore the same shirt that day for the pamphlet drive and blood donation!

We all first off wanted to participate because we wanted to be united with the Church Administration. And secondly we knew this could help someone like my mom. We all can’t help someone directly affected by cancer. But this is one way to help them in their time of need. And not only cancer patients…but those going through surgery, motor vehicle accidents and more!” – Cecille Assim, Burnaby, British Columbia

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Watch the INCGiving Show: Giving the Gift of Life – FYM Foundation Sponsors Blood Donation & Bone Marrow Registry Drives

Contributors: Rhodora Rigor, Thea Canero, Rhoslyn Gaviola, Jessica Garcia, Robyn Aguirre, Stephanie Dinogan, Cecille Assim, Marilen Barreda, INC Media Bureaus in Canada and United States

The Globe and Mail, a Canadian Newspaper, called it a perfect storm of conditions, the way the fire quickly spread across Fort McMurray forcing about 90,000 residents out of their homes and into evacuation centers.

And while these conditions have resulted in devastation, they have also quickly created opportunities to practice what it means to help during times of need.

The Beginning:

On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 3, 2016, we received news that the residents of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada were being told to evacuate due to a wildfire moving closer and closer to the city. Around 70 of the almost 100,000 Canadians evacuated were members of the Church Of Christ..

As I heard the news, questions began popping into my mind – Is anyone hurt? Are they all ok? What could we do?

The Response of The Church Administration:

The Church Administration was quick to respond to help those affected by the evacuation.

Brother Rolando Gaviola, the District Minister assigned in Western Canada, flew to Edmonton on Wednesday to visit the brethren from Fort McMurray, currently residing in the homes of their fellow brethren in Edmonton.

But this wasn’t the only response. Our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, instructed the brethren in Western Canada to hold an INCGiving event to help those who were affected by the wildfire.

And so, my 12-hour drive from Burnaby, British Columbia to Edmonton, Alberta began.

The Day Before:

Around 1:30 in the afternoon, I arrived at the Canadian Druze Centre where the repackaging of relief goods was held. I was greeted by many brethren from all over the Edmonton region, as well as some of the brethren who evacuated Fort McMurray. Around me, everyone had smiles on their faces as they finished unloading a huge truck filled with 2,000 pieces of 12 products – canned goods, pasta, toothpaste and toothbrushes, toilet paper, and many more.

During the repackaging, I was able to talk to some of the brethren and found out that many had told their employers that they would be at the Druze Centre to help in the repackaging of goods, to give out to those who were affected by the wildfire.

Brethren kept arriving throughout the day. Some came right after school, while others stopped by to help before heading to work. I felt the love and concern of the brethren even more because they were willing to sacrifice their own rest just to help out.

Repackaging sounds like a simple job and it is. But not when you have to make more than 2,000 bags of relief packages.

7 hours later, the 2,000 relief bags were packed and ready to go.

May 10, 2016:

As early as 7:00 A.M., brethren were already gathered outside the Canadian Druze Centre. At 8:00 A.M., the brethren entered the hall to receive final instructions and to pray to our Almighty God for guidance before going on our 2 and a half hour drive.

After the prayer, we were on our way.

First Stop: Bold Center, Lac La Biche

About 3 hours later, the brethren safely arrived at Bold Center, Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada, where about 2,000 evacuees currently reside.

The SCAN (or the Society of Communicators and Networkers) members were quick to set up the tents and tables for the distribution. And the brethren lined up, creating a human transport, from the U-Haul Truck to the tents, passing the bags from one volunteer to another.

But we weren’t alone.

We were able to meet George Kourounis, the host of Angry Planet. He was intrigued by what we were doing, that despite being under the burning sun, the energy of the brethren was even hotter.

George Kourounis helping members of the Church Of Christ move bags.

Bit by bit, evacuees came out to receive relief packages. Seeing their smiles warmed my heart so much, because you could see through their smiles that they were thankful for the help.

After donating about 1,000 relief bags at the Bold Center, the brethren then headed 30 minutes north of Lac La Biche to another evacuation center in Plamondon.

Second Stop: White Sands Campground, Plamondon

The second stop was a quick but meaningful stop. There were about 400 evacuees in this evacuation center. We dropped off about 500 relief bags, for the evacuees to get whenever they would need it.

Iglesia Ni Cristo volunteers with some of the evacuees at the White Sand Campground.

Last Stop: Boyle Arena, Boyle

After about 40 minutes of driving back south, we arrived at the Boyle Arena. The arena was not an evacuation site, but there are currently 500 evacuees temporarily living in the village, and the arena was serving as the place where evacuees could come and get whatever they needed, when they needed it.

As the last U-Haul truck backed into the arena, the brethren formed yet another line and started to unload the truck. Joining us in line were other volunteers from Boyle, as well as some evacuees. I was able to speak to Bonnie, one of the volunteers at the arena.

She and her sister even called their friends and fellow volunteers on the phone, and told them that they have to see what we were doing.

“It’s incredible. This is just unbelievable. I think it’s awesome that you guys [the Church of Christ] did this. I know there are Fort McMurray people here, we have them as volunteers and they stay and help us out. So I know for them to see this makes them feel good – this is just great” – Bonnie Lega

As I interviewed Bonnie, she began to get emotional, which in turn, also made me tear up. She mentioned that even though she’s tired from work, she still goes to the arena to volunteer because every bit of help counts.

“I love coming out here to volunteer because even though you’re tired out from work, look at this [us unloading our relief packages] I would never have seen this if I went straight home today after work.”

That’s what I felt, too.

And as I looked at my fellow brethren, I could tell this is what they were feeling as well.

By the end of the 12-hour day, brethren left the Boyle Arena with smiles on their faces and stories to share about how they commemorated the 130th birth anniversary of God’s Messenger in these last days, Brother Felix Y Manalo.

Contributed by Sis Rose Lhyn Gaviola, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Photos from Brother Markfel Serreno, Christian Family Organization Overseer – Western Canada; Brother James Lajeras, Residnt Minister – Edmonton South, Western Canada, Sis Rose Lhyn Gaviola, Burnaby, British Columbia; Sister Camille Francisco, Edmonton West, Alberta; Sister Jowella Mendoza, Edmonton South, Alberta; Brother Kenneth Go-Aco, Edmonton South, Alberta; Sister Kierstyn Sahugan, Edmonton South, Alberta

Tag: Felix Y. Manalo Foundation

Saving Lives

Helping Fort McMurray (Through the Eyes of A Volunteer)