Tzu Chi donates relief items to Pond Island residents
POND ISLAND — When the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation noticed that the residents of Pond Island were heavily affected by Hurricane Irma and that many of their homes had been badly damaged and they were without electricity and water, the foundation decided to coordinate one of its “three goods” relief effort for the residents.
The three goods relief effort signifies the importance of thinking good, speaking good and doing good.
The foundation noticed the situation in the district during a visit on Tuesday, November 14, and immediately coordinated a relief, which was held soon after on Sunday, November 19, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
A total of 18 volunteers got together to assist during the exercise. During the activity, Tzu Chi donated 1,000 pounds of rice, 200 pairs of comfortable sandals and 200 polo shirts to residents of the area.
The need was so big for the relief items that scores of residents began showing up from as early as 2:00pm. Some residents cooperated with volunteers and the foundation managed to execute the effort peacefully, with some recipients even joining the foundation in helping to set up the donation stations. For the activity a “Think Good” station was set up to distribute the polo shirts, a “Speak Good” station to distribute the rice and a “Do Good” station to distribute the sandals.
Volunteers demonstrated the “three goods” philosophy during the event and recipients were very grateful to receive the assistance from the foundation and expressed appreciation as they received the items.
One recipient said he was very thankful to Tzu Chi for coming into their neighbourhood to distribute relief items at this time after the devastating Hurricane Irma. He said residents were still without light and water and they were in dire need of assistance are very thankful and grateful to Tzu Chi for coming to their aid.
Another recipient said residents in the Pond Island area really needed the assistance provided. He lauded Tzu Chi for having an open door policy, noting that the foundation offers assistance to any and everyone. “We thank you for coming in this area because we really needed the assistance,” the recipient said.
Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung said the foundation is grateful for the opportunity to assist and thanked residents for accepting the items donated.