Sequim Gazette staff

Sequim Masons are lending a hand to their fellow Masons in the Philippines with a Philippine typhoon benefit luncheon scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11.

“Operation Rebuild” will raise money to help those living in Tacloban, a community of 150,000 that was nearly destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on Nov. 8.

The luncheon will be held at the Lodge at 700 S. Fifth Ave. from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The menu, prepared by members of the local Filipino community, will feature lumpier, adobo, pandit, menudo and a number of specialty desserts.

The purchased-in-advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10.

At the door, the cost is $12 and $5, respectively.

Robert Clark, who is helping put the event together, said the Masons have taken particular care to ensure the raised funds reach those who most need the help.

The Sequim Masonic Lodge is one of three in the state that will be putting on fundraising events for Filipino victims of Haiyan. Once the events are concluded, the funds will be sent to the Grand Lodge of Washington, which will then deliver the funds to the three Masonic lodges in Tacloban.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call Clark at 683-4431, or call Julie Juntilla, 681-4147.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says Haiyan left 6,111 people dead in its wake. The storm also left 4.4 million people homeless.