Props, sponsors donate over 40 bags, boxes of toys to Karidat

Karidat Social Services received a pallet of toys and canned food yesterday morning at the Karidat Center in Chalan Kanoa, thanks to the help of representative-elect Ed Propst and other generous donors.

Propst, who said they first organized the toy drive four years ago but hadn’t sponsored Karidat in the past three years, said they made up for it this year with over 40 bags and boxes of toys donated by sponsors.

“This year we decided to organize it and asked other sponsors because Karidat mentioned that they did not have any sponsors so we took it on ourselves to become sponsors and organize it and included different sponsors,” Propst said.

The other sponsors are Marianas Variety, KKMP, Joeten Ent., Lollipops, YCO Liberty Plaza, Foremost Scoops and Beach Road Magazine, Toothworks, Java Joes Saipan, Manuel T. Vilaga, Dr. John Doyle, Pat and Susan Castro-Cabrera, Amelia Manibusan and family, Bridgette Camacho and Lil’ Miss December 8 Queen Kassidy and family, Kagman High School, Gloria-Dom Palacios and family, Juanette David-Atalig and family, Michelle Hamilton and Jeffrey Tomokane and family, Florence Sablan, Valerie Reyes and family, Godfathers (Scott Dottino and Ron Biggers), and Jean Sablan.

Karidat acting director Lauri Ogumoro was very pleased and said that they will sponsor DYS as well.

“DYS has a lot of kids and they didn’t have anybody sponsoring anybody this year so between the Salvation Army and Karidat, DYS is going to be covered because we are trying to blanket the island with toys for the kids who are less fortunate and we’re so thankful to Propst,” Ogumoro said, adding that it wasn’t the first time that Propst sponsored a toy drive for Karidat.

Ogumoro also said that all the canned food drive is done in December.

“What we are doing is packaging the food for the people who come to the center and ask for canned food donations and now we are thankful that we keep up the replenishing from the schools and the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality. What we are doing is that any family who ask for food, we’ll package up a care package and they can walk away with canned food as soon as they come in,” Ogumoro said.

Division of Youth Services administrator Vivian Sablan said they are happy and pleased with Karidat for sponsoring the toys for children under their program.

“I am very grateful because we have good community partners like Karidat and we have been working alongside with them for other services too, so with the holidays we try to work with the family and make them feel the joy of the Christmas spirit,” Sablan said.

She said a lot of the children they serve will be happy this Christmas. The toys will be given to those under the DYS Child Protection Unit, the shelter, and Parents Anonymous.

Sablan noted that they will also be getting toys from the Salvation Army and that they will include Rota and Tinian as well this year.