‘Thank you, Guam!’

Standing beside thousands of dollars of donated goods unloaded from a 40-foot Matson container, Gov. Eloy S. Inos on Thursday thanked the Government of Guam for their continued support in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor.

Noting the “generous contribution of our brothers and sisters in Guam,” Inos thanked Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo, Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio, government staff, and the entire people of Guam for their generosity.

“And their willingness to come to the rescue when a sister island is in need,” Inos added.

He said the goods unloaded that day represent Guam’s “understanding of what we need out here.”

The Matson container was filled end to end with food, school, and hygiene products, among others. Inos joined other government and typhoon relief effort leaders on Thursday at the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, where the supplies were unloaded.

The donations will go directly to the students and the people being assisted by the American Red Cross.

“We certainly appreciate the foresight,” Inos said.

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan also thanked the government and people of Guam on behalf of the students, teachers, and staff of the CNMI Public School System.

“Like the governor, I do agree that all these goods we are receiving will go a long way, and close the gaps where the needs are. …Again thank you so much for all the support you have given us,” Sablan said.

American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsch cited the strong inter-island relationships in the Marianas region.

“There is a strong history of mutual aid between our islands,” he said. “We are just so grateful to the people of Guam and to their administration for supporting those most desperately in need of help here in the Marianas.

“Hopefully, through the Red Cross and its partners, our state and federal partners, we can continue to do the great relief work we have been doing over the last six weeks,” Hirsch said.

On Inos’ request for a “big shout out,” the government and relief effort officials gathered gave a loud “Thank You!” to the people of Guam, at the close of last Thursday’s press event.

Immediately after Typhoon Soudelor devastated Saipan, Gov. Calvo, through the Office of Lt. Gov. Tenorio, along with GovGuam employees, initiated various boot drives that raised more than $35,000 that was used to purchase nonperishable food items and other goods for Saipan.

Matson Shipping Co. donated the shipping services and saw to the departure of the container on Sept. 4 bound for Saipan.