Tzu Chi donates 65,105 loaves of bread after Irma

Philipsburg — The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation played an important role in feeding the community immediately after Hurricane Irma battered St. Maarten with powerful winds on September 6, when many families lost their homes and food and water were scarce.

The foundation used items from its reserves to baked fresh, warm bread daily and distributed them to the public free of charge. The bread distribution began three days after Hurricane Irma on September 8, and continued until October 31, 2017.

In total the foundation distributed 65,105 warm loaves of fresh bread to residents in 29 different areas around the country.

A total of 1,783 of the foundation’s volunteers participated in the various distribution relief efforts to get fresh, warm bread to residents in their time of need after the devastating September hurricanes.

Additionally, given the severe impact of the hurricanes on the country’s educational system, Tzu Chi had also donated a number of school supplies to several schools after they had reopened on October 2.

The school stationary relief program began on the day that schools reopened on October 2 and continued until November 7, 2017.

A total of 5,451 stationary packages were donated to a total of 33 schools around the country. The donation was made possible thanks to the assistance of 124 volunteers who took time of out their own personal schedules to help during the distribution of the items.

Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung said the foundation and its volunteers are grateful for the opportunity to assist residents just after the worst hurricane ever in the Atlantic to hit the island and to help students with material that could have helped them educationally after school reopened.

Photo caption: Tzu Chi Foundation donating bread up Cay Bay hill. Photo provided.

Photo caption: Tzu Chi Foundation donating bread in Dutch Quarter. Photo contributed.