Karidat Social Services E-Land donation drive extends relief to Tinian, Rota, vulnerable residents

Relief efforts for survivors of Super Typhoon Sinlaku expanded beyond Saipan last May 22 as the E-Land Foundation distributed hundreds of food and household supply packs while also setting aside aid for residents on Tinian and Rota, as well as vulnerable individuals without transportation.

The drive-thru distribution at Coral Ocean Resort provided about 500 relief packs to Saipan residents, with another 100 packs each earmarked for Tinian and Rota and additional supplies reserved for communities and individuals facing transportation challenges.

Gov. David M. Apatang, who attended the distribution, thanked the E-Land Group for stepping forward to help residents still recovering from the Category 5 storm.

“I just want to say thank you to E-Land for doing this today, the food distribution,” Apatang said in an earlier interview. “We really appreciate it and I’m sure that our people are going to be very happy to receive all this good stuff here.”

Apatang also noted that relief supplies were being shipped to the CNMI’s southern islands.

“I understand that they shipped a container to Rota and Tinian also, so I hope our people can enjoy it,” he said.

Marianas Visitors Authority board chair Warren Villagomez said the distribution continues to provide critical assistance to families still recovering more than a month after Sinlaku devastated parts of the CNMI.

“This is a tremendous impact helping our community as we continue to recover,” Villagomez said. “We can see the long lines out there, and with this, it subsidizes already the hardship of our community that’s rebuilding.”

Villagomez also highlighted the coordinated effort involving the Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety volunteers, and local leaders from Tinian and Rota.

“We reached out to [the Department of Corrections] to assist us on providing supplies and dry goods to those that are unfortunate,” he said. “Transportation is an issue, challenge, and there are some folks out there that are still in a very difficult situation for them to make their way here.”

He added that corrections personnel, who have been working in villages during the recovery period, were able to identify residents most in need of assistance.

Kensington Hotel Saipan general manager Ted Jung said the company hoped the donation effort would remind residents they are not facing recovery alone.

“We’ve been through like three times of the big typhoon, also the COVID,” Jung said. “What we learned is that 1 plus 1 is not 2 — this time I can see 1 plus 1 is 11.”

Jung said the support coming from volunteers, government agencies, and residents demonstrates the CNMI community’s unity during difficult times.

“There’s a lot of people behind you… supporting each other and giving us hope for the future,” he said.

Calvin Park, general manager for PIC and Coral Ocean Resort, said Coral Ocean Resort was selected as the distribution site because southern Saipan communities suffered extensive damage during the storm and the property could better accommodate heavy traffic.

“We hope to make a donation so many people can overcome the hard time,” Park said.

“We have about 500 pieces for the donation. And also we have about 100 for Tinian and 100 for Rota and 100 for other communities,” said Lindsey Ahn, sales and marketing manager for Kensington Hotel, PIC, and Coral Ocean Resort.

The relief packages included cooked rice, Spam, curry, ramen noodles, baby wipes, tissues, and other ready-made food items.

Ahn said the donation effort was organized as a way for the company and foundation to give back to the CNMI community following the support they themselves received.

“We were getting a lot of help from the community, so therefore it’s time to give back to the community,” she said. “Our E-Land Foundation really wanted to give this donation to CNMI as early as possible.”

During the event, company representatives and community leaders also emphasized the CNMI’s resilience and spirit of mutual support following repeated disasters, including previous typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This community is very strong and very willing to help each other and rebuild,” Villagomez said.

Ahn said the donation may only be “a small gesture,” but organizers hope it helps bring comfort to families still struggling in the aftermath of the Category 5 storm.

“We believe if we work together and help each other, like neighbor help neighbor, then we’re going to overcome this situation faster,” she said.

The relief goods distributed during the event were donated by the E-Land Foundation in partnership with Kensington Hotel, PIC, Coral Ocean Resort, community volunteers, and government agencies.