Previous Story
‘Number of Karidat beneficiaries went up this year’
|
Posted on Dec 16 2008
Karidat Social Services expects to end the year with an increase in the number of individuals and families it has assisted
According to Karidat director Angie Guerrero, this year’s number of beneficiaries will surely top last year’s, which totaled 5,200.
The final data would be known in the first week of January.
Guerrero joined Karidat founder Bishop Tomas A. Camacho in receiving Thanksgiving Day donations from the Mayor’s Office yesterday morning.
Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela turned over to Camacho assorted canned goods and a cash donation.
The food donations came from several groups that included the Saipan Community Church, Jesus Is Lord Church, Saipan Southern High School National Honor Society, Kagman Elementary School, and Saipan Korean Association. Jack and Becky P. Cruz also donated $20 cash.
Tudela told the bishop that his office is gratified at the community’s continued support to provide assistance to needy residents, especially during the observance of Thanksgiving.
He said that, at this time of the year, the Mayor’s Office always makes it a point to ask the public for food, clothing and money that will be shared with those in need.
“The Office of the Mayor, in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, every year turns to the entire community for their most generous donations, and in return all proceeds are presented to the diocese for distribution, under the direction and supervision of Karidat Social Services,” Tudela told the bishop.
Guerrero expressed appreciation to the efforts of the Mayor’s Office, especially in these difficult times.
She said that despite the hardship that a lot of families are experiencing, the spirit of giving and sharing is still there.
Guerrero explained that from January to April there would be no federal grant for emergency food to Karidat.
“These donations would feed the people who need food during that period,” she said.
The current emergency food and shelter grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will expire at the end of this year.
She said that they will request for more funding in mid-February and this would be awarded in April.
