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Masons donate to Karidat
Emon Lodge No. 179 worshipful master Bong Malasarte and senior steward Wendell Posadas hand over the check to Karidat director Laurie Ogumoro and Typhoon Soudelor volunteer Emy Camacho. (Jon Perez)
A group of Freemasons donated cash to Karidat yesterday for the benefit of those who still need help after the destruction of Typhoon Soudelor.
Emon Lodge No. 179 handed over $500 to Karidat executive director Lauri Ogumoro.
According to Emon Lodge No. 179 worshipful master Romeo “Bong” Malasarte, the donation came from a fellow Mason who heard about their relief operations on Saipan.
“It was given by a visiting brother Mason from New Zealand, Felix Ko from Auckland Lodge 87,” Malasarte said. “Ko donated the money that he collected from his Lodge. He just coursed the money through us.”
Ko is a former master Mason and was previously connected with the Kasilawana Lodge 77 in the Philippines.
“We decided to give it to Karidat because they still continue to reach out to typhoon victims. Karidat said there are still a lot of people who are in need and that this is a big help for them,” Malasarte said.
“We’re just continuing to help the community rebuild,” he added.
According to Ogumoro, the Masons in the CNMI have been a partner in their outreach efforts.
“The typhoon has affected us all. Emon Lodge has been helping us through the years. Every little donation helps in our recovery efforts,” Ogumoro said.
Ogumoro said they are still handing out cash assistance, especially to those who lost a lot.
“We are still distributing donations that came from the mainland since there are still families who have not yet gotten on their feet,” Ogumoro said. “We are also getting referrals from the [Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts], who are the people that need help and what kind of assistance they need.”
She said the Freemason donation will be used for the Guma Esperanza shelter.
“We did not know that the shelter has insurance, but we’re also getting some money for that. FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) financial assistance will be used for the structure part since the insurance does not cover that,” she said. (With Jon Perez)
