When UC Davis’ Fil Am student groups set up an online fundraising drive for typhoon relief, they set a rather modest goal of $1,500. Now, 11 days after Typhoon Haiyan brought untold tragedy to the Philippines, they’ve reached their goal ($1,510 as of Nov. 19) — and have decided to appeal for more.

The fundraising website declares: “We are raising our goal to $33,000 (based on UC Davis enrollment). A dollar per UC Davis student is reasonable. A dollar goes a long way in the Philippines. Thank you for your continuous support.”

Donations to the Rise Up! UCD Fil Am relief fund — in connection with Typhoon Haiyan (which struck Nov. 8) and the Bohol earthquake (which struck the Philippines on Oct. 15) — can be made here or at the Student Recruitment and Retention Center in the Student Community Center. Find out about other fundraising efforts on the Rise Up! website and Facebook page.

According to the fundraising website, “All monetary donations will be sent through the (U.S.-based) National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON, an organization that works closely with grass-roots community organizations in the Philippines. Their Bayanihan Relief and Rehabilitation Program ensures that monetary donations go directly to the communities in need.”

Michelle Martin, a leader in the relief effort, said the term “Fil Am community” at UC Davis pertains to seven student organizations. Martin is the president of one of them: Mga Kapatid (Tagalog for “My Brothers and Sisters”), a social, cultural, political and academic organization of about 200 students.

The others are: Chi Rho Omicron, Filipino interest fraternity, Kappa Psi Epsilon, Filipina interest sorority; Filipino Association for Health Careers; Filipinos in Liberal Arts and Humanities; Filipinos Americans in Science and Engineering; and BRIDGE (Filipino/a outreach and retention).

Today (Nov. 19), the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported casualties of nearly 4,000 people confirmed dead, 18,503 injured and 1,602 missing.

UC Davis’ Services for International Students and Scholars reached out to students and scholars from the Philippines soon after the typhoon, advising by email that SISS “is here to provide whatever assistance we can.”

According to SISS, UC Davis has six international students and four scholars from the Philppines, and almost 1,250 domestic students who identify themselves as Filipino or Filipino American. Study Abroad has no students in the Philippines.

A psychologist from Counseling Services reached out to Fil Am student representatives to offer her unit’s support and services. The counseling unit for students is in North Hall; urgent mental health care is provided at the Student Health and Wellness Center.

SISS provided similar information in a Nov. 12 email to students and scholars from the Philppines, listing Counseling Services as a resource for students, and the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, or ASAP, as a resource for scholars, for assistance in dealing with the stress often associated with challenging times.

Davis campus ASAP: Guilbert House, 112 A St., across the street from Voorhies Hall; call (530) 752-2727 for appointments. Sacramento campus ASAP: 2100 Ticon III, 2730 Stockton Blvd., two blocks south of the main hospital; call (916) 734-2727 for appointments.