Typhoon Haiyan anniversary: Toronto church holds memorial mass

Family and friends of Filipinos devastated by Typhoon Haiyan last year attended a memorial mass Saturday on the disaster's anniversary at Toronto's hub for fundraising efforts to help those in need.

Torontonians gathered at Our Lady of Assumption Church to remember the lives lost on Nov. 8, 2013, when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and left more than 7,300 dead or missing.

• Philippines year-long recovery still proving difficult
• Toronto Filipino-Canadians focus on aid post Haiyan

The church has served as a central location for fundraising efforts in the city. Those fundraising efforts have continued throughout the year.

UNICEF President David Morley says the country no longer needs basics, like food and water. Instead, the need has shifted for permanent housing and health care.

Rosemary Enverga is one of the volunteers who helped send more than 1,000 boxes filled with food, clothing and medicine to areas that suffered the most from the typhoon.

Enverga says Toronto's Filipino community really came together in the fundraising efforts.

"The outpouring of support in all ages, and they brought everything they can from their own pockets," she says.

Enverga has visited her native Philippines since the typhoon and says the people there are still smiling, despite everything that has happened to them.

Now, she wants to collect donations to help Filipinos in a new way. She wants to raise money to build permanent housing for those still in need.