United Way donates $20K to EVMF

A nonprofit worldwide organization has donated $20,000 to Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation that would be used to provide food for hungry individuals in the CNMI.

EVMF staff Rosie Ajoste thanked United Way Worldwide for the generous donation in a Facebook video she posted last March 17, where she said that United Way helped over 1,000 people in the CNMI community in 2019 and 2020.

Using the United Way donation, Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation will be handing out goody bags who seek help from the EVMF center. Each goody bags will have 5 lbs of rice, a can of Spam, a can of Vienna sausage, canned beef stew, and a couple of different varieties of canned tuna in oil. For dessert, they’ll be giving out canned corn and pineapple slices.

“We did the video as a thank you to United Way at the end of the current cycle, which just happened to coincide with the COVID-19 [pandemic]. Huge coincidence. But we need community support [such as] food donations from suppliers and grocers and monetary donations for operating expenses such as rent, utilities, and communications. We are inviting individuals to partner with us for a minimum donation of $20/month to keep us afloat. Just 50 partners could pay our rent and monthly utilities,” said Ajoste.

EVMF is currently closed, but they are still receiving requests for food. They are unable to distribute food until they receive donations.

Ajoste said EVMF can be reached through its Facebook page, Facebook Messenger, or by phone at 235-2340 or 286-1570/256-1570.

Recent events that EVMF organized for the benefit of the community were two garage sales last March 7 and March 10. In addition, EVMF also had a thrift store cleanup with assistance from the Mount Carmel School Red Cross Club. They also held a Valentine’s Day ball—“Romance in the Marianas”—last Feb. 19 at Saipan World Resort and raised about $5,000.

The EVMF Outreach Center is located on Middle Road in Gualo Rai across Bali Fashion. For more information, call 235-2340.

United Way is a worldwide movement of nearly 1,800 community-based United Way in more than 40 countries and territories. It advances the common good by focusing on education, income, and health, the building blocks of a good life. (Krizel Tuazon)