MDX gives $500 to Red Cross

MDX Amateur Radio Club donated $500 to the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter last Thursday at the latter’s office along Airport Road.

The group’s board member Leo Canedo said their donation would be for the international humanitarian organization’s relief efforts in the central Philippines, which was hit hard by supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last Nov. 8.

ARC-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh thanked the organization for their donation and said the money will surely help relief efforts in the country.

“It’s a generous donation. We’re very grateful to pass this on to all the families and victims affected by supertyphoon Haiyan.”

Hirsh said the donation will go directly to the American Red Cross’ International Services, which is working very closely with the Philippine Red Cross and other major aid agencies “that are there on the ground.”

Canedo, for his part, said MDX Amateur Radio Club chose the American Red Cross to give the donation to because it’s one of the—if not—the premier humanitarian organization in the world dealing with disaster relief.

“The group has always said that if there’s a disaster that we will always donate to the ARC-NMI Chapter. It’s a very trustworthy group and we can depend on them.”

He said the group held a meeting last week where some 20 MDX Amateur Radio Club and other HAM radio operators attended. During the meeting, a collection drive was also started and that’s how they were able to come up with the $500 donation.

Aside from Canedo, MDX Amateur Radio Club president Bong Malasarte and his wife, Malou, and another member attended the check presentation last week.

Asked why the American Red Cross seems to be the preferred organization to donate money to in times of disaster, Hirsh said its track record speaks for itself.

“The American Red Cross has a very high standard of accountability for making sure that these funds will be used and given to the people who need it the most. The advantage of giving to the Red Cross is we’re kind of a trusted humanitarian organization in doing this kind of relief work for over 100 years. There are a lot of other great organizations but you really have to be very careful not to give to an organization that you’re not really familiar with because you just don’t know where that money is going to end up.”