Erwin Strelow watched the news intently November 2nd, 2013 as the typhoon hit the Philippines. Bits and pieces of scattered pictures never to be put back together, people scream out for their loved ones to come back, but most are still missing. People stand out on their front lawn and take in the grief of the devastating typhoon of the Philippines. Anyone who watches the news or remotely pays attention to the world around them knows about the typhoon disaster that happened in the Philippines.

But, coming from an itty bitty town 7,910 miles away, it can sometimes be hard to focus on the outside world. This event has significance on Cannon Falls especially to Erwin Strelow, an eighth grader at Cannon Falls Middle School who was adopted from the Philippines in August, 2007. “There was a lot of damage to the orphanage where I was adopted from,” Strelow explains. According to Weather Watch the dangerous typhoons occur in the Philippines. A dangerous typhoon is around 240 kilometers per hour. On November 2nd, 2013  the typhoon was at a speed of 315 kilometers per hour. Super Typhoon Haiyan as it’s now called washed up over 3,631 people as of November 15th according to BBC news. Scattered across the Philippines are 7,000 islands that have been affected.A pebble in the water makes a wave and if Erwin had the chance he would help the situation, “I would do a lot of work there like trying to rebuild that house.” Strelow goes on to explain how his family has contributed by donating to a children’s shelter. Cannon Falls students watch or are forced to watch CNN news for a valid reason. Everyone can talk about what they would like to change about the situation of the Philippines, but actions speak louder than words. Cannon Falls high school is putting words in action. Student council president Ryan Foster explains his grand plan about the fundraiser student council is putting together to support the Phillipines.

The fundraiser will be starting Friday the 22 and will be going though next Monday and Tuesday before our Thanksgiving vacation (Foster). “We’re going to leave an envelope in each of the homerooms to collect money.” Principal Hodges also thinks that the fundraiser is a spectacular way to get the school involved in an event bigger than itself. “I really like the idea of students looking beyond themselves as far as helping other people. I think too often kids – especially middle school and high school kids – get the stereotype that it’s all about them and they never think about anyone else. It’s nice to see a couple of times this year how the Student Council has sponsored some fundraising things.” Be present in homeroom and donate to the people in Philippines who need it most. This fundraiser will be going through the American Red Cross organization. In a small town of approximately 4,000 people no one would ever think a typhoon 7,910 miles away would affect anyone. But it has. Strelow  and his family should be an example for our town to make a difference.