~Distributes to 300 families in Cay Bay~
The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation is continuing its aid to provide much-needed relief to persons in the community affected by the passing of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, by distributing more “Love Rice” sent to St. Maarten by Tzu Chi’s head office in Taiwan.
On July 10, Tzu Chi St. Maarten received a second hurricane relief container with 2,000 bags of rice from Tzu Chi’s headquarters. Each bag contains 10 kilos of rice.
This is the fourth container of rice sent to St. Maarten by Tzu Chi’s head office and the second container sent specifically as hurricane relief for the community of St. Maarten. The first bag of hurricane relief rice was sent to the country in May.
A total of 18 local Tzu Chi volunteers worked in harmony and offloaded the container within three hours on July 15.
Without wasting any time, 28 volunteers got together on July 16, and braved the early afternoon heat to hold their first distribution for this latest shipment by giving out 300 bags of rice to 300 families in Cay Bay. The 28 volunteers included 11 Chinese contractors and engineers, who are in St. Maarten working on the rebuilding of the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino as well as seven new volunteers from the Cay Bay district and 10 volunteers from Tzu Chi St. Maarten.
While all volunteers were grateful to assist in the project, a representative of the Chinese volunteers said the group felt very blessed and grateful to assist and promised to help in any way that they can, during their time in St. Maarten.
The recipients in Cay Bay were happy with the assistance and also supported Tzu Chi’s benevolent efforts by contributing financially to the foundation’s “bamboo bank” (collection boxes), in an effort to help the foundation to help others in the community in other areas. Recipients lauded Tzu Chi for being a foundation that offers everyone a chance to assist while also receiving.
Many of the recipients were still out of work and were still living under tarpaulins as they are unable to repair the damages to their homes caused by the September, 2017 hurricanes. Recipients were grateful for the Love Rice received and felt blessed that Tzu Chi was there to provide continuous support.
Tzu Chi St. Maarten Commissioner Sandra Cheung said the foundation is grateful to Tzu Chi Founder Master Cheng Yen for sending another container of rice to assist the community of St. Maarten.
