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LDS Charities donates over $1M to Red Cross
From left, Larry Lee, NMI board member; Rep. Sheila Babauta (Ind-Saipan); Michael Kern, FEMA VAL; J.D. Tenorio, Red Cross Disaster Program manager; Rep. Roman Benavente (R-Saipan); Jean Sablan, NMI Red Cross board member; Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan); Valrick Welch, Saipan ward bishop; John Hirsh, NMI-Red Cross executive director; Bob Coldeen, NMI Red Cross board member; Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios; elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, Asia North Area Presidency; elder Bill Davis, Area Seventy; Diego Sablan, Barrigada Guam Stake Presidency; Tayna Belyeu-Camacho, NMI Red Cross board chairwoman; Saipan Mayor David Apatang; Rep. Joel Camacho (R-Saipan); Joe Flores, Rep. Joe Itibus (R-Saipan), Rep. L.J. Castro (R-Saipan); Rep. Donald Manglona (R-Rota), and Rep. Larry Guerrero (R-Saipan). (Contributed Photo)
LDS Charities has donated more than $1 million to the Red Cross in disaster relief after Typhoon Yutu slammed into the islands of Saipan and Tinian on Oct. 25, 2018, the strongest tropical cyclone on record to ever hit the area.
“We are so grateful to be able to partner with the American Red Cross office in Saipan to help those in need following this disaster,” said elder William H. Davis, an Area Seventy. “We are grateful to help those who were affected by this devastating storm.”
Off-island church leaders met with Red Cross officials on Saipan last Jan. 24 to discuss the use of the donated items to support the residents following the super typhoon. The church provided $10,000 in cash to cover fuel and supplies for volunteers immediately following the storm. In December, $1 million was donated to support relief supplies and the deployment of emergency personnel. This large donation is made possible through many small donations from Church members.
“Having the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as our strategic partner has truly made our response work possible” said John Hirsh of the NMI Red Cross Chapter. The church has a long history of helping less fortunate, vulnerable populations recover from disasters. “Through this donation, LDS Charities has again shown their innate desire to provide help when and where it’s needed the most. The church’s donation to the Red Cross has directly improved the lives of thousands of families here in the CNMI as they continue to recover from this catastrophic storm” said Hirsh.
In the immediate wake of the storm, the American Red Cross scaled up to support families and provided essential relief supplies, such as tarps, drinking water, lanterns, mosquito netting, and meals. Financial support was also provided to families whose homes were either destroyed or had major damage. Part of the mission of LDS Charities is to relieve suffering following natural disasters, civil unrest or famine around the world. When local resources are strained or nonexistent, the church provides short-term, life-sustaining resources such as food, water, shelter and clothing, as well as medical, and school and hygiene supplies. (PR)
