MARPAC donates water to VOAD for typhoon recovery efforts

MARPAC has donated six pallets of canned water to CNMI Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to help families still recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with company officials saying the contribution is part of a long-standing disaster relief partnership with supplier Anheuser-Busch.

Speaking last June 17 at the Typhoon Support Logistics Center, MARPAC Sales manager James Lee said the shipment was made possible through Anheuser-Busch's continuing commitment to communities affected by natural disasters.

“Every time when we get hit with natural disasters, Anheuser-Busch always stepped up and coordinated with us as well and see what we need,” Lee said.

According to Lee, the latest donation came from MARPAC's second container of emergency drinking water received following Sinlaku.

“Each container has about 2,240 cans of water,” he said.

Lee said the company's first container was donated directly to the American Red Cross, while the second shipment was distributed through CNMI VOAD and its partner organizations.

“Working close hand-in-hand with VOAD, and I know they're also distributing down to Tinian, and I believe they are also going to work on distributing to other islands as well,” he said. “So, perfect place to donate the waters to and contribute to the community.”

CNMI VOAD representative Becky Dania Mettao thanked MARPAC for the donation and said the water will be distributed to residents still dealing with the effects of the typhoon.

“We recently, actually this morning, we had some friends from MARPAC deliver, I believe it was six pallets of water for our community,” Mettao said.

She noted that many families continue to need assistance nearly two months after Sinlaku.

“Our community continues to suffer,” Mettao said. “We are continuing to do our best to partner up with other people to make sure that the basic needs of our community is brought in, but also sent back out right into the homes of the people who need them most.”

Mettao added, “Definitely a big shout-out to MARPAC. Thank you for donating the cases of water, the pallets of water that's going to go out into our community.”

Lee said MARPAC continues to work with suppliers to identify additional ways to assist residents as recovery efforts continue.

“As far as MARPAC goes, we are definitely there for the community,” he said.