ACS is on the scene in Saipan, part of the NAD’s Guam-Micronesia Mission, in the aftermath of the destructive Typhoon Soudelor, that devastated that area on Sunday night, August 2. The VOAD partners for that area have asked ACS to set up a multi-agency warehouse to house and distribute goods coming from Guam and other countries. ACS is working with the disaster response teams of ADRA as well as other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have gone there to help. So far they have been able to create a partnership with the airline industry for low-cost transportation to Saipan, following very strict requirements.
One of their goals while there is to develop and train a Saipan ACS team from people who live there. In order for Saipan members to work with a larger organization that has means and specific duties to work with the entire disaster relief framework, special skills and understanding are needed. For instance, ACS is training people with very little technical expertise to work with the inventory software necessary for running a warehouse in a disaster aftermath. There are additional challenges, one being that Saipan is financially challenged, and they need additional funds beyond what is usually allotted to local NAD conferences grappling with disaster relief.
To donate for Saipan, go to https://acsdonate.maxgiving.com/pay/step_1 and write “Saipan Relief” in the Comments section, or on a check if using church offering or snail mail to the division office.
“Sometimes we do not realize just how many people are relying on your service and ministry,” said Sean Robinson, ACS director for Disaster Response for North America. “Every act of service is an act of worship and changes peoples lives.”