Typhoon Haiyan, known as typhoon "Yolanda" in the Philippines, ripped through Southeast Asia in early November. The Philippines were especially hard hit, and Andy Po, owner of Homebase Skateshop, knew he wanted to help.

Almost a year to the day before, when Hurricane Sandy devastated the Atlantic Coast, Po had held a fundraiser at his South Bethlehem skate shop. He had also organized fundraisers benefiting the Bethlehem Skateplaza, but he had a unique connection to the typhoon.

Po is of Filipino descent and has family living near Manila in the northern part of the country. His relatives were mostly unscathed, because most of the devastation occurred in the southern regions, but Po remembers visiting Talcoban City, a particularly hard hit area, in a childhood trip. Thinking of the suffering people and the upcoming holiday season gave Po the idea for his fundraiser.

He decided to donate 100 percent of the profits from Homebase branded products and Supra Footware sales between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, which included the Black Friday weekend. He raised $1,244 for the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, an umbrella organization for Filipino organizations in the United States.

Po described his contribution as "just a drop in the bucket" for the relief effort. Though the disaster happened more than a month ago, Po said the need continues to be tremendous.

In addition to the fundraising for the typhoon, Po is organizing a campaign to give six kids brand new skateboards for Christmas.