Boxes and bags of heartfelt donations piled up throughout the day at a disaster relief event at at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic church in Hamden.
The Philippine-American Association of Connecticut held the event to help gather supplies for those affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Volunteers packed up medical supplies, clothes, blankets, and food to help the thousands devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
The response was so overwhelming that the Philippine-American Association of Connecticut kept running out of boxes.
"It makes me feel so happy that people really care," Melanie Goingo.
When 10-year-old Jordan Wieland's mom told her what happened halfway across the world, she knew she had to do something.
"I know a lot of them lost food, money, and a lot of clothes, so I wanted to help so they can feel better," said Wieland.
Many at the event have family in the Philippines and were so grateful for the generosity.
"We have half a roof on our ancestral home, but everyone is alive, thank goodness," said Brenda Sarosario, a nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital. "Every little bit helps. These people are injured, maimed, and they need everything and anything they can get their hands on."
Along with bringing in much-needed goods, several brought out their checkbooks. The organization even took used cell phones to hopefully help open the lines of communication.
At the event, organizers say they were able to raise around $15,000 and filled 300 boxes of supplies. They expect both those numbers to rise as people who weren't able to make the event continue to call, asking how they can help.
All donations are expected to be shipped out by the end of next week. Organizers say everything will be given to Operation Blessings in the Philippines. That organization will then hand it out to those in need.
