Hundreds line up for Lions Club relief items

Hundreds of residents lined up for the Lions Club International District 204’s distribution of relief items at the Saipan Mayor’s Office last Saturday.

Over 500 individuals in Saipan received relief items as the Lions Club International distributed at the Saipan Mayor’s Office last Saturday. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)

Some people lined up as early as 1am to make sure they will be able to get numbers as only 500 people were set to be given aid initially.

“It was a bit hard to control the crowd, especially those people who were not able to get the numbers since we can only guarantee the first 500 families. We are really hoping we can give to all who showed up but at least only few people went home empty-handed,” Region 2 chair Ladyvir Canape said.

Bags with goods such as rice, bottled water, luncheon meat, noodles, crackers, tuna chunks, batteries, flashlights, toilet tissue, diapers, blankets, baby wipes, gum, and towels were given away.

“We gathered this one, very short, about four days in Guam. We got a $10,000 LCIF grant, $7,000 from Guam Lions, and then the business owners’ donations. So a total of this one is about $24,000 worth,” said district governor Daniel Yang, who came to Saipan for the distribution.

Other delegates from Guam came as well such as 2nd vice district governor Art Navarro, past district governor Goring Duenas, and PDG Herbie Perez to assist the Saipan Fil-American Lions Club, Saipan Marianas Lions Club, and Saipan Unity Lions Club.

After the relief distribution, Lions Clubs members went to the Commonwealth Health Center to donate eight cases of baby wipes, five cases of diapers, and eight cases of bottled water.

This is not the first time that the Lions Club donated to victims of Typhoon Soudelor and, according to Yang, last Saturday won’t be the last one.

“We have another one worth $5,000 in a couple weeks with Sen. Dennis Rodriguez. He’s with the Lions also. We’ll donate here again,” Yang told Saipan Tribune.

“In the event that we can get funds and donations from Lions Clubs again, we will be happy to distribute again, knowing that help is still needed until we are fully recovered from our situation now,” Region 2 PRO and SFALC president Annamae Adaza said.

The Lions Club’s donors and sponsors included Marianas Express Lines, Dependable Global Express, the Korean Association of Guam, Masonic Lodge of Guam, Onward Mangilao Golf Club, Younex Corp., Copy Express, National Office Supply, Magic Lamp, Wellness Pure Water, Division of Customs, Saipan Stevedore Co., CPA, CTSI, Cosmos, Emergency Management Office, and the Saipan Mayor’s Office.