An Appeal to Fil-Am Organizations; RE: Response to COVID-19

GEORGIA FILIPINO COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE

April 6, 2020

Filipino American Association of Columbus Georgia

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the whole world and Georgia is not an exception. Like the rest of Americans, a great number of Filipino Georgians have lost their income as a direct result of this pandemic, and now worry about where to get food on the table and where to get the money for mortgage or rent. Most of us will economically survive this crisis, in a short period, because of our lifetime savings and government unemployment and stimulus programs will help us get through. Still, a handful may need additional assistance to get through this crisis.

Filipino overseas workers who are here in Georgia under the J-1 work exchange program are in a different category altogether. They all came here with practically nothing and are on contract for a maximum of 18 months. Just like all Filipino overseas workers, they send home most of their paycheck and leave just enough for food and rent. The sad reality is, all of these J-1 workers were prematurely terminated from work as a result of COVID-19, being the lowest on the totem pole, and left with practically nothing to provide for food and rent.

With guidance and request from the office of the Honorary Consul General Ray Donato, Makabayan Georgia, Inc. (MGI) created the GEORGIA FILIPINO COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE with the primary mission of developing and implementing a plan to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic among our "kababayans" in Georgia.

We are requesting your organization to help the GEORGIA FILIPINO COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE by taking the lead in the vetting process of eligible candidates when they come forward. Note that we may not be able to provide 100% assistance with each candidate, but hopefully enough to help alleviate some of their difficulties during these hard times. Please see vetting form attached.

Eligibility criteria are as follows;

Georgia resident
Filipino
Loss of income due to COVID-19.
Not eligible for any unemployment benefit/stimulus package from the US Government.
One eligible candidate per household

Submit your recommendations to makabayanga@gmail.com.

The GEORGIA FILIPINO COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE will determine the amount of financial assistance extended to the applicants.

Funding:

We are all in this together. We are encouraging you to reach out to the generosity of your constituents to support our mission. To jump start the response fund drive, the six MGI directors have personally donated $1,400 and allocated an additional $4,000 from the MGI general fund. Properly funded, we will be able to widen the scope of our mission.

For online donation visit http://www.makabayangeorgia.org

or

Make check payable and mail to:

Makabayan Georgia, Inc.

P.O. Box 2962

Duluth, GA 30096

Donation may be tax deductible. Consult your tax adviser.

Sincerely,

Wil P. Bonus

Attached: Eligibility form.