Residents and shelterees wanting food. Here is information to help feed the hungry


Linda Meno of Pagat, whose immediate family has been housed in emergency shelters since the typhoon’s onset, told Sen. Chris Barnett the food being provided to shelter occupants is not enough, and that residents are going hungry.

“Shelter residents are being fed,” said Stephanie Flores, the lieutenant governor’s senior advisor and de facto head of the disaster recovery response’s food distribution operation. “The Red Cross has been providing hot meals to the shelterees, and there even are commodities being distributed,” governor’s spokeswoman Krystal Paco-San Agustin added.

According to Ms. Meno, who is a petite woman, the shelters – operated by the Guam Department of Education – are providing two hot meals a day, but the portions are insufficient for basic nutrition.

While the American Red Cross is supporting the shelters by providing the two hot meals, it is the government of Guam’s shelter operation, and not the responsibility of the Red Cross. Kandit awaits a response from Adelup whether either GDOE or GovGuam will increase hot meals for shelter occupants.

Donate food via the mayors, make cash donation to the Red Cross

Asked whether Guamanians can donate food to the shelters, Ms. Paco-San Agustin said the government is trying to minimize traffic to the shelters. Donations can be made to the mayors’s offices, some of which are staging sites for the packaging of food.

“We are pushing out food commodities to villages and we are doing direct deliveries to consumers of GBHWC DISID and DPHSS shelters and Man’amko,” Ms. Flores said.

Scores of volunteers, including Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, and Senators Chris Duenas, Jesse Lujan, and Tina Muna Barnes, employees of the governor’s office and the Guam Legislature, have been packaging and delivering food for people in need. The demand is growing.

“I’m already preparing my second round to the mayors who have asked for more supply,” Ms. Flores said. The food packaging operation in Piti this morning produced 4,000 bags of food alone. “To say that we aren’t doing anything is so wrong,” Ms. Flores said.

Residents and businesses also can support the American Red Cross’s relief effort by making a monetary donation to the Red Cross either at 1-800-RED-CROS, www.redcross.org, or visiting the American Red Cross chapter office in Hagatna across the Agana Shopping Center.

Get food through your mayor, or have it delivered to you if you don’t have a ride

“We are distributing MREs and water here at the Senior Citizens Center in Tamuning,” Sen. Jesse Lujan, who has – along with his entire office staff – been working out of the Tamuning Mayor’s Office since the storm’s passage, helping with the relief effort. “If they want to drive by we load them in their cars for them. No reason for people to go hungry.”

Ms. Flores confirmed that non-shelterees who need food can call or visit their mayor’s office to get food. If they do not have transportation, food will be brought to them.

Unsanitary conditions at shelters; feces on the floor

The conditions in the shelters also are causing alarm, after Ms. Meno told Mr. Barnett some shelters don’t have adequate running water, lack water buffalos, and people are defecating inside the shelters because of a lack of wastewater sanitation.

“It’s so bad,” she said. “Where is the governor? We’re hungry.”

Ms. Paco-San Agustin added:

“In addition to two hot meals, all shelterees are provided 3 MREs and four boxed bottle waters a day. What we’re observing is most shelterees prefer the hot meals.

“All three sites have island water but what’s being experienced islandwide as demand goes up, water pressure goes down.

“Portapotties are also available. Working with [Guam] Homeland Security, we are increasing frequency of cleaning.

“The reports of smell may be from shelterees with medical conditions. Wellness checks by Public Health and Red Cross are done daily.”


1 Comments

  • I appriciate the HARD work our Mangilao Mayor , Vice Mayor and staff are doing. Its beyond their control as far as power & water reconection is concern. It would be nice if the hunters were allowed to HUNT wild pig & deer and donate the meat . I myself would prefer wild pig over can beans, but I’m just greatful that there’s help ! Some of my many questions is ” What’s taking so long to get MORE FEDERAL AIDE FASTER, how about EMERGENCY SNAP for those that aren’t on the program . what about getting private comanys to donate employees who ooerate dump trucks and other heavy equipment to help clear debre ( go village to village ) of course the trash would be segregated…. tires, white goods,metals, plastics , and wood.

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