VOAD takes clothing relief into communities with new village distribution drive

The CNMI Volunteers Active in Disaster is expanding its clothing relief effort beyond its warehouse by holding free clothing distributions at community locations, beginning with the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center, to make assistance more accessible for families still recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

Speaking during a distribution event last June 26, VOAD clothing lead Ernest Camacho said the organization is taking its outreach directly to residents who need it most.

"Yeah, we have a clothing distribution today here at the multipurpose center giving out free clothes to all the people in need at the Typhoon Relief Center," Camacho said.

Camacho said the clothing distributions are continuing as volunteers work through donated supplies.

"We are constantly emptying containers, constantly giving out free clothes," he said, adding that the next distribution is scheduled for today, June 30, at the Saipan Mayor's Office. "We will be updating you guys on the TSLC Clothing Facebook... and we will be posting each distribution and letting you guys know week to week."

The village-based distributions are a shift from having residents travel to the Typhoon Support Logistics Center warehouse. Camacho said the change is intended to make aid more convenient while reducing congestion at the facility.

He said VOAD's hotline has become a key part of that effort by allowing residents to request assistance directly from their homes.

"Rather than having all the people bombard the warehouse, we actually have a hotline that you can call and we will send people straight to your house with all the needs you need, whether it's diapers, clothing, food, snacks, anything at all that you could need," Camacho said. "If you need a tarp or anything, just give the request, call the VOAD hotline and we will be there as soon as possible."

Camacho said the distributions have become especially meaningful because many of the recipients are people he met while volunteering at emergency shelters after the typhoon.

"It really makes me proud to know that people that I know from the shelter that have lost everything are constantly showing up every distribution," he said. "We spread a lot of joy, happiness and hope to people that have lost everything. And in these times, it's really hard to find clothes on Saipan."

He credited donations from stateside supporters and partner organizations, including Ayuda Foundation, the Micronesian Climate Change Alliance, and VOAD volunteers, for making the clothing distributions possible.

Camacho also thanked donors for continuing to support the recovery effort.

"To all the donors out there, thank you very much for all the donations you have given. ... You are truly helping people in need," he said. "A lot of people come to us and you turn frowns upside down. You give the hope, you give the love and regardless of everything, we will continue to strive to do our best and we will continue to do what's right."