Tzu Chi raises funds for disaster victims

Fifty-eight Tzu Chi volunteers, Tzu Chings and Tzu Chi Ormoc scholars took part in a fundraising activity inside the Tzu Chi Ormoc Great Love Village in Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of disaster victim in Nepal and Tibet.

The fund drive raised at least P12,492, with residents, themselves former victims of disaster, dropping money in the Tzu Chi donation boxes carried by the volunteers house to house.

Before going to the village, the volunteers first gathered to pray for the victims and affected families and made their own monetary contributions to the relief effort.

The same volunteers gathered donations in front of business establishments across Ormoc City on 6 September.

The 26 August floods along the Nepal-Tibet border have caused widespread destruction, killed more than 1,300 people and left thousands still missing. Entire villages near the border were affected, leaving many families displaced and in need of immediate assistance.

The disaster was reportedly caused by the collapse of a glacier and surrounding bedrock, which triggered flash floods and debris flows that swept through nearby communities.

Meanwhile, Tzu Chi USA volunteers also came together in prayer and action for the communities affected by the disaster. Beginning 1 September, Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee led the prayer before lunch each day, offering their wishes for those who have lost their lives, those still missing, and every family facing an uncertain road ahead.

As Tzu Chi USA mobilizes its Nepal flood relief fundraising efforts, Lee encouraged staff to transform compassion into action by contributing no matter the size.

She also invited donors and volunteers to the Tzu Chi USA 2026 Charity Concert on 20 September.

“We invite everyone to join us in turning compassion into meaningful action. Together, may we bring hope to those affected and pray for safety, strength, and recovery,” she said in a post on Facebook.

Donations will go to support compassionate relief and long-term recovery for communities facing disaster.

In 2025, Tzu Chi USA provided more than $5 million in cash cards to over 5,000 disaster-impacted households, benefiting more than 23,000 people when they needed support most.

It also continued walking alongside Los Angeles wildfire survivors on their road to recovery, providing more than $450,000 in financial assistance to 69 recipients.