Local non-profit organizations are at the forefront of delivering disaster relief quickly after Super Typhoon Sinlaku. They’re the first boots on the ground even before federal assistance mobilizes. We’re shining a light on the community action ramping up in Tamuning, where volunteers say they’re in it for the long haul.

The community showing their love for those hit hard by Sinlaku. Here at the former Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School, regional response is ramping up with non-profits at the forefront of rapid relief. Volunteers are seen filling shipping containers with critical supplies donated by the community to help those in Chuuk and the CNMI.

The donation drive kicked-off last Friday immediately after the storm’s passage and they’re already on their seventh container, with two of them scheduled to be shipped this Friday to Chuuk. The drive is organized by the Ayuda Foundation, alongside other local non-profits.

Bella Borja, a volunteer with Ayuda, shares why community action is more vital than ever at times like these, telling KUAM News, "I think it’s really important to spread awareness and just to volunteer your time. A lot of these families have lost their homes. There’s long lines for water and a heat warning. I can’t imagine if it were my family enduring it. If I can give my time to give the other islands some comfort, I would do it a thousand times."

With critical infrastructure damages in Chuuk and the CNMI, getting these supplies to those islands quickly is key. Micronesia Climate Change Alliance volunteer Annie Fay Camacho says that’s where non-profits come in. She said, "It’s great to be able to do this with non-profit organizations because sometimes federal assistance can be a little slow moving. Working with non-profits, you get direct mutual aid and make sure we get that as soon as possible."

And the community has been mobilizing the past week, coming out in full force to donate their time and goods. "Volunteering here, even just a couple hours of the day, has been really helpful," Camacho continued. "But even if you can’t volunteer, if you can donate water, if you can donate baby formula, if you can donate canned food, anything is a big help."

Borja explains it’s because they know even an hour out of their day means a lifeline is being delivered. Borja commented, "I see the videos on social media, of families and their homes getting destroyed, and just the lines for gas and water. Honestly, it’s heartbreaking to see. Being here makes a difference. Even if it’s for an hour or all day, being able to pack those supplies and send it out is a lifeline for our sister islands."

In the meantime, their message to the community: spread awareness, donate and as Camacho says, remember that “Disaster relief is a marathon, not a sprint.”

"You know, this is not something that after this week, they’re all going to be great and recovered," she said. "We have to keep thinking about the next couple of weeks, the next couple of months. It’s going to be a long time for them to fully get where they used to be."

No doubt these volunteers and the community are in it for the long haul, together with the Marianas.

They joined in unison, saying, "WE ARE MARIANAS STRONG!"