“Jamming” for Typhoon Haiyan Relief

December 4, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Their music has helped rebuild a local barn and supported the local hospital, now the sounds of the Thursday Night Jam Band will go international December 5 to benefit relief efforts in the Philippines.

The band will take over Aw, Sucks, the recently reopened restaurant near the southwest corner of Yonge and Wellington on Thursday night to raise money for the Canadian Red Cross in response to the recent Typhoon Haiyan.

“It’s a disaster of huge proportions,” says band frontman Steve Falk. “Filipinos here still have those strong links to tonnes of people there. It’s not like they are in their second or third generation away. It is very recent.”

The Thursday Night Jam Band chose the Canadian Red Cross as it is one of the relief charities earmarked by the Federal Government to match any donations to increase efforts on the ground.

“I think you always want to give back with some kind of talent,” says Mr. Falk. “This just so happens to be one of the things we love doing. Finding an excuse to go out and play is a lot of fun. If you have to explain to your family that you do that a few times a year, doing it for charity is a great reason.”

Although they haven’t set specific goals for Thursday night’s fundraiser, they have collected a number of items as prizes for a raffle draw, including meals at the restaurant, and as auction items and rather than selling tickets, a donation jar will be passed around to keep things informal.

“It’s great to be doing it in a new place too,” says Mr. Falk of their venue. “Aw, Shucks looks like a vibrant place and it is going to be fun to play there.”

For more on ways to support relief efforts in the Philippines, visit www.international.gc.ca or www.redcross.ca.