Community Update | May 13, 2025
Today, we met with Consul Generals from Latin America, as well as with the organization Latincouver to share information about what resources are available to them, our crisis response and the joint task force we’ve convened to support the needs of victims, their families and the broader community that’s been affected by the tragic events of April 26, 2025.
We recognize the profound loss to the Latin American community and we will continue to work with them to support people’s immediate needs and long term recovery, and we’re developing plans for how we can work closely moving forward. If you gathered with us to celebrate our culture, you too are part of our community, and we will uphold our long standing practice of caring for those who need it.
Additionally, a Canadian Red Cross Case Manager will start working with Filipino BC tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14, to begin assessing and responding to people’s individual needs. We are working to speak with more victims and their families and meet with partner organizations to connect with more people who need support. In the coming days, we’ll share more information on how to contact a case manager directly. We also expect one Spanish-speaking and another Filipino-speaking case manager to join our team very soon.
Anyone seeking support can also attend the temporary Resilience Centre, which will reopen Friday in a new location near Fraser St. in South Vancouver. Today, the Resilience Centre had 50 visitors. Meals were generously donated by the Vancouver Filipino Chef Meal Train. We will be sharing the new location with dates and times for the remainder of the month by tomorrow, May 14.
If you or your family need support with mental health and counselling, medical expenses, food security and funeral and burial expenses at the Gardens of Gethsemane – the Archdioceses has launched applications for grants. Apply by visiting the link in our bio.
Finally, this past weekend, we saw several fundraising events in support of the KAPWA STRONG Fund, which was made possible through a partnership between Filipino BC and United Way BC. We would like to thank the many organizers for all their efforts and continuous support, including Quinit Boxing which raised more than $17,000 at its BBQ and Potluck. More events are planned for this long weekend, including Magkasama at Fortune Sound Club on Monday, May 19. This fundraiser is donating 100 per cent of the proceeds to the KAPWA STRONG Fund.
Whether you feel like gathering in unity, calm healing spaces or for frontline services, please know that your collective work makes a tremendous impact. Your efforts are the embodiment of kapwa and that’s what’s driving recovery and helping us concentrate on delivering crucial services to those who need it most.
