SYDNEY, Australia – A Filipino Australian was one of many who immediately took initiative and organized a relief drive for typhoon victims in the Philippines.

“I came to the office and sent e-mails to everyone appealing for food and other items," said Emma De Vera.

De Vera was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from both Filipinos and Australians.

Twelve days after she first sent her email, De Vera and her daughter Jane and son-in-law were able to collect 464 boxes of relief goods and 3,000 kilos of food and medicines.

Hundreds of people also showed up at the De Vera press printing warehouse in Grandville to donate food, clothes, shoes, blankets, medical supplies and other items.

"You know what, they're all strangers and our friends from different parts of the community from the north and the south, from churches…there are Australians we don’t know,” Jane De Vera Crame said.

Other Filipinos dug deep into their pockets to give what they could. To date, no less than 930 boxes of relief goods were sent to the Philippines and more are on the way.

The De Vera’s warehouse in Grandville has now become a major drop off center for donations.

In Maroubra Bay, Father Manuel Santiago organized a vigil mass in the parish of Saints Mary and Joseph as well as a relief drive for typhoon victims.

"Actually, the first initiative came from the Filipinos living here. I just read through the e-mail that they needed help so I circulated the letter and spontaneous generosity and the spirit of volunteerism among the Australians is very evident in this parish,” the parish priest said.

There are now about 15 to 20 boxes of donations collected by the parish.

"The particular intention is to offer prayers for recovery and healing of those who suffered the most," he added.

Good Samaritans responded to the call for help. One of them was Carmela Gollogley, organizer of the Operation Manila Relief.

“We are very lucky here and it’s about time that we give something back to Filipinos back home,” she said. Reports from Gigi Grande, ABS-CBN Australia News Bureau chief, Caroline Howard, ABS-CBN News and Balitang Australia