The General Mills Foundation donated funds to the International Red Cross to assist recovery efforts in the Manila area from the storm that caused heavy flooding and widespread power outages.

“We are pleased to provide assistance to help with the recovery,” says Ellen Luger, executive director of the General Mills Foundation. “It’s important that we support our communities by providing support for relief efforts during challenging times.”

The storm affected more than 350,000 people, who now need basic supplies such as food, clothes, blankets and medicines. Supermarkets this week have been emptied of most grocery staples.

General Mills' employees were affected, but they are also contributing.

Tess Panganiban, general manager for the General Mills Philippines business, reported, "Our team is safe, but many employees are faced with major cleanup and home repairs.

"But they are also are donating clothes and blankets to a nearby relief center, and the company will donate Nature Valley granola bars in an effort to provide evacuees with ready-to-eat food.”

General Mills employee volunteers were also re-packing sacks of rice into smaller kilo packs to help in the aid relief.

General Mills’ distribution partners who sell Nature Valley, Pillsbury and Old El Paso are operational.