Ohala Foundation to hold food and clothing drive on Saturday

The Ohala Foundation, a non-profit organization, will be holding a food and clothing drive this Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1pm to 6pm, at the Oleai pavilion across Modern Stationery on Saipan, near the Atkins Kroll intersection in San Jose.

This Saturday’s Ohala Drive seeks to receive donations that will significantly benefit families of the CNMI with food and clothing that will be distributed throughout that community.

Leading the drive on Saipan will be 2019 Miss Earth NMI Leisha Deleon Guerrero. “I’ve always believed that it is important to use your given platform to empower and help our community with or without the title. I took the initiative to partner with the Ohala Foundation as a volunteer, to help organize and gather donations on the island of Saipan. We must continue to support our neighboring islands during these times” she said.

Tasi G. Long, who is the foundation’s vice chair, said, “Any little amount helps. We’re asking for the community to please reach out and help their fellow neighbor either through a small donation online at ohalafoundaton.com or by bringing food and other needed items directly to the pavilion this Saturday.”

Leisha Deleon Guerrero

Deleon Guerrero said there is a plan to reach out to local businesses and companies to help gather donations in hopes of providing more to those who need it the most. “This month, we will be contacting [businesses] throughout our community to set up a box where customers and employees can donate food/clothing items, which will then be collected later next month. This Saturday, we have partners from Army ROTC [at the Northern Marianas College] and 4-H Marianas to assist us and we invite local businesses in our community to contact us via Facebook, Instagram, our website at ohalafoundation.org or phone if they would like to help be a part of this cause.”

Rota, Saipan, and Tinian will benefit from these drives, as all funds, clothing and food will go to the Ohala Foundation’s programs.  The Tinian-based Ohala Foundation has plans for its organization to expand to Saipan and Rota by February 2021; however, the foundation is already working with several groups to co-sponsor events on both islands prior to February.

The Ohala Foundation has held events on Tinian to commemorate the start of its operations. The Ohala Closet Grand Opening was held Nov. 3, followed by the Ohala Community Food and Clothing Drive on Nov. 3 and 4. Food bank meal distribution began on Nov. 6. The foundation will have a second food distribution on Nov. 20, will conduct a Basic Customer Service/Marketing Training Program on Nov. 30, and will feature a Spirit of Ohala Virtual Run on Dec. 12.

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or avail of services visit www.ohalafoundation.org or call 670-433-2664. (PR)