Convoy of Hope stretched by multiple disasters

A confluence of typhoons, tsunamis, floods and earthquakes has Convoy of Hope volunteers and employees stretched all over the world.

Springfield-based Convoy provides disaster and poverty assistance to people around the country and world; to date, the organization has helped more than 28 million people in 45 states and 112 countries.

This week, the organization is being pulled in multiple directions and is looking for financial assistance.

Major rainfall has produced flooding in both Georgia in the southeastern United States and the Philippines.

In Manila, Philippines, Convoy and its partners have set up a distribution system for food and water throughout the city, which has more than 19 million people in its metropolitan area.

"Luckily, in the Philippines we opened a warehouse two or three months ago, so we already had product there as part of our children's feeding program," said Convoy Senior Director of Communications and Technology Jeff Nene. "So we diverted some of that for emergency use, and then we're also buying product in the country to get as much into people's hands as quickly as we can."

Nene said Convoy plans to set up 12 stations around Manila to hand out food, water and emergency supplies.

Efforts in Georgia, meanwhile, continue as Convoy crews distribute food and supplies and help clear debris and salvage personal items from homes flooded by record rainfall in mid-September. The organization already has distributed 360,000 pounds of food, water and cleaning supplies.

"Now we're working with teams to help clean out people's homes and help them in the next step to recovery," Nene said.

Convoy's workers, however, have been strained even more by the tsunami that hit Samoa and American Samoa following a major underwater earthquake Tuesday. A team leaves for that area Saturday to set up a similar system to the one in the Philippines.

Nene said the best way for individuals to help is through monetary donations at convoyofhope.org. He said that, while the organization appreciates donations of purchased products, Convoy is able to turn every donated dollar into $7 worth of products, through partnerships with companies such as The Coca-Cola Co., which donates free bottled water and drinks for relief efforts.