PORTLAND — A special collection for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, gathered at Catholic churches and schools throughout the Diocese of Portland on the weekend of Dec. 1, resulted in a total of more than $138,000 for Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency representing the Catholic Church in the United States.

“Allow me to express my gratitude to the many people in our parish and school communities for their incredible generosity in helping to provide crucial relief and humanitarian aid to the millions of people facing a long road to recovery in the Philippines,” said Bishop Richard J. Malone, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Portland. “This money will assist Catholic Relief Services as they continue their work of establishing proper shelter, offering supplies and aiding in long-term assistance. The true measure of a people’s character is how they respond in another’s moment of need. The charitable giving of the people of Maine once again rose to meet an enormous challenge affecting people we will never meet. Yours is the charity of Christ.”

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in early November, killing more than 6,000 people in that country alone and affecting nearly 15 million people while damaging over one million homes. To date, Catholic Relief Services has distributed more than 44,000 specially-designed tarpaulins for shelter; 34,000 nail kits to assist in shelter assembly; more than 34,000 hygiene kits and 27,000 water kits.

The agency is also employing workers in 14 communities with jobs that include removing debris from streets so that rebuilding can begin. Catholic Relief Services also provided immediate necessities such as water, food and medical care in the aftermath of the typhoon.

Interested parties looking to donate to the recovery efforts in the Philippines can donate online at portlanddiocese.org, by phone at 877-435-7277, or by mail via a check or money order to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303.