Steven Barbosa sent out a single e-mail on Sunday evening asking for items to help victims of a deadly storm in the Philippines.

Five days later, his office floor was covered with clothes donated by more than 100 Bermudians eager to help.

"I really didn't expect the e-mail to go around so fast," he said yesterday. "Since Monday morning, the phone's been ringing off the hook."

A week ago, the plan was to send a container to Cainta Rizal, Philippines, with carpentry equipment from Mr. Barbosa's business, but last weekend the region was struck by Typhoon Kentsana, which flooded homes, turning streets into rivers. The storm has killed more than 300 people, with more than 40 people still reported missing.

"I have a son from there from my first wife, and I have an adopted daughter there," Mr. Barbosa said. "We speak to them everyday, but that day, we heard nothing.

"Thankfully, everyone from our family was fine. Our house is elevated. In my son's house the water was up to the second floor."

After hearing about the impact of the storm, a friend, Sheila Aguiar, asked if one of her friends could put something in the container, so he sent Ms Aguiar an e-mail.

"It just took off like that," Mr. Barbosa said.

Ms Aguiar sent the e-mail to her clients, who in turn sent it further around the Island.

"She's a troublemaker," he joked. "The first day after the e-mail went out, we already had people dropping off stuff. The good thing is that there are a lot of people who want to help, and every little bit counts."

Mr. Barbosa said the container was about half full, but the floor of his office was littered with dozens of bags of clothes that still needed to be put in the container.

"Right now, we're consolidating everything. We're trying to utilise the whole container," he said.

Mr. Barbosa said he is aiming to have the container filled by Wednesday so that it can begin its trip to the Philippines, but if the donations continue, he said he hasn't ruled out sending another container.

And the help is needed. While Typhoon Kentsana has broken up, a second storm, Typhoon Parma has caused floods and landslides that have killed an additional 160 people in the Pangasinan province. According to the UN, around 500,000 people have fled their homes and are living in shelters.

According to Mr. Barbosa, the reaction from the Bermudian public has been amazing.

"Everyone's been very generous. People have been coming by with six or seven bags of clothes.

"We had Bermuda Pest Control come down here with a lot of new shoes. They usually send a container to Africa, but they gave us the whole load of shoes, along with rain gear and $200. We still have to go into town to pick up more stuff. A couple of businesses got their staff together to organise donations.

"We're really fortunate here," he said. "So why not help? They need it."

• If you are interested in making a donation, contact Mr. Barbosa at 536-5704. Items can be dropped off at Barbosas General Carpentry and Construction Ltd. in Somerset.

Items needed include clothing, stuffed animals, toys, old non-wooden furniture and non-perishable items.