~Working on another relief for 800 more families~
The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation with the support of Tzu Chi’s headquarters in Taiwan and in collaboration with Helene Hunt-Hodge of the Royalty Development Network and Resource Center in French St. Martin joined forces to sow seeds of compassion, love, hope, and relief with the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by donating seven pallets of relief goods for residents affected by the recent volcanic eruptions.
The first shipment of four pallets of relief goods was shipped on April 24, 2021, and the second shipment of seven pallets on May 8, 2021.
The first four pallets of relief goods consisted of 21 cases of milk powder; 32 cases of Corn Flakes; 25 cases of washing soap; 42 cases of Clorox; 21 cases of toilet paper; and 4,000 masks. In St Vincent, the relief items were handled by Park Hill Evangelical Church Elder Brian Dabreo and his Senior Pastor Conroy Huggins.
The relief items arrived at the Church on May 3, and 22 volunteers began distribution of the items, the following day on May 4. A total of 250 families were presented with packages from this shipment.
Coordinators were very grateful to the owner of the 35-ton vessel Big Red Boat Mike Mckenzie, and organizers Clarence Derby, Natasha Wright Derby, and Augustus Thomas, who offered the shipping free of charge to transport the first batch of relief items from St. Maarten to St. Vincent. Tzu Chi’s first set of relief items was the Big Red Boat’s first shipment to St. Vincent.
The second batch of seven pallets of relief items consisted of 34 cases of milk powder; 50 cases of Corn Flakes; 40 cases of washing soap; 67 cases of Clorox; 34 cases of toilet paper; 75 cases of water; and 4,000 masks. The relief items are estimated to benefit 400 families. This batch of items were shipped by Instance Shipping which departed the Galisbay Port in French St. Martin on May 8, and it was expected to arrive in St. Vincent on May 14. Instance Shipping offered a 50 per cent discount on shipping costs.
Educator Shevern John, a past president of the Junior Chamber International St. Vincent chapter, who had been affiliated with many non-governmental organisations will be handling the second shipment of seven pallets.
Coordinators of the relief are thankful for the opportunity to help those affected by the volcanic eruptions in St. Vincent through the support of Tzu Chi’s headquarters in Taiwan, which sponsored all of the relief items.
The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation is currently working on another emergency request for 800 food packages from the Park Hill Church after their first distribution.
Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung is grateful for all those who have assisted in the initiative; for Tzu Chi’s headquarters for providing the relief items and for recipients for accepting the donations.
