More than $36,000 poured in to the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu yesterday during a radio telethon held to raise money for the storm-battered Philippines.

The aid came in, often $20 at a time from individuals, and in matching funds from companies. But all will be used to help people affected by the worst flooding in four decades from a one-two punch of two typhoons that have killed about 300 people and injured countless others. The country has been battered by back-to-back storms, landslides and an earthquake over the past week.

In all, the community center, which is spearheading the fund raiser, collected about $36,500 that will be sent to Caritas, the social arm of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and the Consuelo Foundation, said Toy Arre, president of the community center. By giving donations to the selected Filipino charities, Arre said, the aid can be put to use as the groups see fit.

Yesterday, the center organized a telethon aired on KNDI-AM radio. Donations were dropped off at the center and at eight other locations.

"The donations made to us have been big and small," Arre said. "One man endorsed a check he had for $41.89 and another wrote a check for $500."

Money will continue to be collected through Oct. 24. The goal is to raise $100,000 to benefit those affected by the storms and landslides, Arre said.

The community's outpouring comes at a time when many in Hawai'i are suffering through an economic downturn.

"I don't feel like it's been hard to get donations," Arre said. "In the first four days we collected more than $16,000."

Wil Rebibis, a Kalihi resident, came by the community center with $60 in cash. He was donating $20 each for his two sons and himself.

"I don't have any family in the Philippines," Rebibis said. "We wanted to donate because my children have seen how poor the people are living in the Philippines."