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MAHAL president funds community pantry
Rene Reyes, president of the Marianas Advocates for Humanitarian Affairs Limited, is personally funding a Saipan community pantry hosted by MAHAL this weekend. The pantry will only welcome walk-ins and drive-ins with claim stubs.
The community pantry will take place on May 1 and 2 from 8am to noon at the Kilili Pavilion, which is the blue structure with IT&E signage across the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Those wishing to claim a care package should register and claim their stub at the Kilili Pavilion on Friday, starting at 8am. Law enforcement officers will be present to supervise the event for safety purposes and the maintaining of COVID-19 safety guidelines.
“[My family and] I received additional funds, and I wanted to give back to the community,” said Reyes, who is organizing the pantry with help from MAHAL but is funding the pantry by himself. With the help of volunteers, Reyes seeks to distribute over 250 care packages over the weekend containing bags of rice, canned goods, dried foods, ramen, and other non-perishables. Reyes says some volunteers have pledged to also supply water and cases of eggs.
Reyes invites anyone wanting to volunteer or donate foodstuff this weekend to do so, but he will not accept cash donations or checks: “It’s best the community receives goodies over just money, and I don’t want to be seen as a money-grabber or doing this for profit. …I want [the pantry] to be about the care packages and the community,” said Reyes.
Reyes hopes to see a good volunteer turnout this weekend and to hold more Saipan community pantries in the future.
