Man’amko celebrate early Thanksgiving with Rotarians

For Maria Salinas, Thanksgiving is the time when families get together to sit down, share stories, and catch up with their lives.

Her family, Salinas said, includes her fellow congregates at the Aging Center. “I come over here just to see the camaraderie we have here, which is very good,” she said. “This is a happy place to be.”

Thanksgiving came early for Salinas and the rest of the man’amko when members of the Rotary Club of Saipan went to the center yesterday to host a lunch for the elderly.

Some 30 Rotarians brought and personally served traditional and healthy Thanksgiving fares that included turkey, ham, red rice, titiyas, garden salad, and assorted fruits for dessert.

The Rotary Club of Saipan hosts the Thanksgiving luncheon every year to pay tribute to the elderly population of the island as part of the Rotarians’ community service.

Rotary president Pete Igitol, in his remarks before lunch was served, said Thanksgiving is “best” when they celebrate it among the man’amko.

“I used to come here as a young man. Now I should be sitting among you,” laughed Igitol.

He said the Rotarians enjoy coming to the center and celebrating the holiday with the congregates. “You are our benefactor, teaching us the knowledge that you have. Take good care of yourself and we hope to see you again next year.”

Salinas said this was actually her first time to have the Thanksgiving luncheon by the Rotarians since she leaves the center from time to time to visit loved ones in the mainland.

“For them to be able to host a luncheon year after year despite the down economy, it’s very, very generous of them. I hope they continue to do good and bring happiness to the man’amko,” Salinas, who is also vice chair of the Saipan Seniors Advisory Council, told Saipan Tribune.

Terry Sitae, who has been with the center since 2002, also thanked the Rotarians for the annual luncheon.

“I’m really happy because every year is like this. They give man’amko food and something for Thanksgiving,” she said.

Congregate Yong Chayi said this was her third time to enjoy the delicious Thanksgiving luncheon sponsored by the Rotarians. “We’re so happy to have them here.”

Council chair Teresita Sorroza, for her part, expressed “a very big thank you” to the Rotary Club of Saipan on behalf of the congregates.

“They have very big hearts,” said Sorroza. “They don’t forget the man’amko.”

The Rotarians also donated prizes for a raffle draw and a bingo game led by Rotarian Ben Babauta. Prizes included bags from Pacific Islands Club and First Hawaiian Bank, Christmas CDs, Bingo mugs and key chains, gift packs from DFS and D&Q, and gift certificates from PIC and Younis Art Studio.

Aging director Rose Mondala described the Rotary Club of Saipan as the center’s “most precious partner.”

“On behalf of my clients and staff, we would like to thank you for your continued support to us. Our man’amko are filled with joy for the generosity you’ve shown us in the past years. We consider you a part of the family and we really, really appreciate you from the bottom of our hearts,” she said.