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EVMF donates new lavatories to man’amko
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Posted on Dec 26 2013
Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation donated new lavatories, included four toilets and a urinal, to the Aging Center on Christmas eve, Dec. 24. The donation will finally allow the CNMI Office on Aging to renovate the center’s restrooms.
The donation came from the proceeds of the recently held 2013 Saipan Next Top Chef Competition.
“When we held our annual fundraising event, we were very fortunate to have the support of the business community, such as Delta Air Lines, Joeten Enterprises, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan. We are also grateful to Island Bath & Ceramics for donating part of the restroom equipment to the Aging Center,” said ministry founder Rose Smith.
In all, the chef competition was able to raise $5,200 through the sale of tickets, cash donations, and gifts and in-kind donations, Smith said.
“The proceeds from the event went to our abroad programs for children support of education and here on Saipan, we chose to help the elderly by providing toilet bowls and urinals, which the government do not have funding for,” she added.
Office on Aging director Walter Manglona expressed his appreciation to Smith and the EVMF volunteers and business sponsors. “We really were not expecting this and I am sure the man’amko are going to also appreciate the help from this organization, the EVMF.”
The winner of that 2013 Saipan Next Top Chef Competition, Rhea Backe, was also at the presentation.
Backe said that she was happy to be a part of the event that raised funds for the community’s elderly. “It is important that we take good care of the island’s elderly citizens.” Backe, a homemaker with 15 years of cooking experience, won the local cooking competition held on Nov. 30 at PIC Saipan.
Also present during Tuesday’s simple turnover ceremony at the Aging Center were Island Bath & Ceramics owner Ivan Ilmov, Delta Air Lines representative Christopher Concepcion, and PIC Saipan representative Vicky Benavente.
Empty Vessel is a 501(c)(3) charity and all donations are tax deductible. Visit the Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation on its Facebook page, or the website at www.emptyvesselministry.org.
