Please keep my dad in your prayers as he brings aid and helps those in the Philippines recover from typhoon #Haiyan pic.twitter.com/PXN6snl1DR — Matthew Barkley (@MattBarkley) November 19, 2013

Quarterback Matt Barkley's job as a backup means he must be ready at a moment's notice.

Barkley's father, Les, emulates the same quality in a much more serious manner. Following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever with wind gusts of over 230 miles per hour which wreaked havoc on the Philippines on November 8, Les Barkley made the overseas trip to volunteer by helping provide aid to those who survived.

Barkley is certainly not surprised that his father went to where help is needed.

"That's the type of man he is. He's looking to serve first," Barkley said. "He's blessed to be able to do that at a moment's notice, to be able to go out there and help in any way he can."

Barkley said that communication has been extremely limited and he doesn't know the full details of his father's service. The devastation is too severe for Barkley to make a short trip to help during the bye week, but it is something he will consider in the offseason.

Service missions are nothing new to Barkley. In fact, if he wasn't playing football, Barkley said that he would probably do some sort of philanthropy work. Barkley's parents started the Monarchs for Marines campaign which renovated youth areas near Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. In 2010, Barkley spent 11 days in Nigeria to do construction work and distribute supplies and gifts. Following the earthquake in Haiti, Barkley led a contingent of 16 USC Trojans who spent five days on the island building houses and delivering more than 2,000 pounds of supplies.

"You can only sit on your butt for so long before you feel the need to do something greater," Barkley said.