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When big storms hit Ruby Silvious' native Philippines in the past, she would usually thank her American neighbors for their concern, but inform them her friends and family back home were fine.

But when Super Typhoon Haiyan landed in the beginning of November, the familiar scene of checking in with loved ones played out differently.

"I did not realize just how bad it was until I watched the news," Mrs. Silvious told The Evangelist from her home in Coxsackie, where she attends St. Mary's parish. "It was my province, my town, really close to me. I just thought, 'It's gone.'"

Mrs. Silvious is from Tacloban, the capital city of the province of Leyte and the area most severely affected by the typhoon, which killed an estimated 5,500 people and left millions of people displaced. Her uncle is still missing, and a cousin's family of seven from the town of Tanauan perished. A classmate she saw at a high school reunion in June has not yet been found; friends are assuming he's dead.

A few days after the typhoon hit, Mrs. Silvious - who moved to the U.S. in 1977 at the age of 20 - decided she wanted to help her relatives by shipping relief items to them. As she heard reports of aid not being distributed, her desire to help extended to the whole city of Tacloban.

"I know that what I'm sending is not going to get there immediately," she said, "but I have to do something like this." She called the scope of the crisis "just ridiculous."

Mrs. Silvious announced her relief effort at St. Mary's and spoke with a local reporter. Already, she's received $1,000 in checks in addition to toiletries, clothes, flip-flops, tarps for shelter, paper and plastic utensils, shower curtains, canned food and hand sanitizer. Items have been dropped off at her house; her porch and living room have filled up quickly. St. Mary's plans to hold a second collection, as well.

"I'm really very touched," she said. "Every time I come home, there's a box of milk or a bag of clothes or checks under my door. It's just amazing."

Mrs. Silvious plans to send multiple balikbayan boxes - a specific type of package sent by overseas Filipinos to their home country - in two shipments to a cousin in Manila, who will bring the items to Tacloban. Mrs. Silvious is researching the best distribution organizations. It costs $75 to ship one box.

"It's really a big undertaking," said Mrs. Silvious, a graphic designer and artist in Poughkeepsie. "I wish I didn't have a job and just did this.

"I'm hoping to help them start to rebuild their lives," she continued. "I have classmates who lost everything."[[In-content Ad]]

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