Tinian delegates, others donate to Salvation Army

A delegation from Tinian donated cash and supplies to the Salvation Army yesterday for those who need help following Typhoon Soudelor’s destruction on Saipan.

Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas together with Sen. Jude Hofschneider, municipal treasurer Charlene Lizama, and councilman Edwin Hofschneider delivered food and water as well as a check for $5,220 to the Salvation Army at their office in Chalan Piao.

Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas, together with Sen. Jude Hofschneider, municipal treasurer Charlene Lizama and councilman Edwin Hofschneider, donated $5,220 as well as food and water supplies to the Salvation Army yesterday after holding a fundraiser and donation drive last week. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)

“We certainly want to thank them all and the people of Tinian. That was an incredible amount,” Pastor Wayne Gillespie of the Salvation Army said.

The donations were from the Saipan Relief Raffle Fundraiser and Donation Drive that was held last Friday by the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan Island.

Aside from Tinian, many have also donated to the Salvation Army.

“The International House of Pancakes in Guam was the very first who donated water and enabled us to give water to families. We also want to thank the Bank of Hawaii for their donation of $10,000 to help us in our efforts and we’re very grateful to all our donors,” Gillespie said

Foremost Group also donated 200 cases of milk while Pacific Trading Co. donated 200 cases of juice. Ina-Taek Hwang and HanaTour donated canned stews, ramen, and water.

757 meals served last Sunday

The Salvation Army has been providing hot meals and water every day to the public since Aug. 5. They operate from 12pm to 4pm.

As of 2pm yesterday, they were able to serve more than 400 meals.

Gillespie said the number of people dropping by has been increasing.

For the first day, they were able to serve 76 meals, 179 on the second day, and all the way up to some 757 last Sunday along with 770 bottles of water.

Volunteers

And while the need increases, volunteers for the soup kitchen also increased.

Yesterday, members of the United Methodist Church, Interact Club, and the Living Hope Church of the Nazarene were there to lend a hand. Volunteer Shelly Scott is now tasked to coordinate the daily volunteers to ensure that there will be people who will man the soup kitchen.

Last Saturday, about 20 members of the Saipan Young Professionals volunteered for the Salvation Army’s soup kitchen. They prepared the meals, served dine-in families, provided water and even held signs to encourage passersby to stop by.

“During this time of need, we’re glad to work alongside the Salvation Army to provide meals to families, especially those with young children. I’m humbled to be a part of the process and applaud the Salvation Army and members of the community that volunteer to help in any way they can,” SYP chair Mable Ayuyu said.