A group of businesses donated $30,000 to Home of the Aged at Mapuifagalele and another $30,000 to the Carmelite Sisters at Vailima on Monday.

An annual event coordinated by the KaakiaMai Group, 4SJC88 ma Uso Malisi, PacificEzy and Moana Rentals with contributions from the Samoan diaspora has collected NZ$116,350. 

.According to the General Manager for Pacific Ezy in Auckland New Zealand, Mao'iautele Amitonu Brigitta Fa'afiti they started this initiative five years ago. They started out with $6,000 to support the elderly and recognise the work of the Sisters.

"The Taatia Mai Group, 4SJC 88 ma Uso Malisi, Pacific Ezy, and Moana rental coordinate the funds from people who donate and we collect those funds. Taatia Mai Group runs the Po Siva and we bring all the donations together to Mapuifagalele. All of these groups are voluntary, they all work voluntarily to provide these to our elderlies and nuns here in Samoa," she said.

"Today formulates the donation or fundraising for Mapuifagalele and the Carmelite Sisters which has been an annual event for the last five years. We started with a humble $6,000 and it has been increasing. Thank God that it doubles every year. 

"Last year, we managed to get $50,000 and this year, we have achieved with the support of all the people who have donated from New Zealand, Samoa, and all around the world $116,350. From that, there has been a donation to the NZ Carmelite Sisters, and today $30,000 each has been shared with Mapuifagalele and the Carmelite Sisters at Vailima."

The collections were made at their offices, including PacificEzy in New Zealand, and through sponsorship for a fundraiser that was held on 15 November in Auckland by the TaatiaMai Group. She also mentioned that they have been involved in community work for the past 20 years. 

The nuns at Mapuifagalele expressed their gratitude for the donation. Sister Sera Skelton who is now looking after the elderly said the work they do for the elders does not need payment.

"I believe it is God's love that has guided us all here today but I am thankful to these companies for thinking of the work that we (nuns) do here for our elderlies. We don't need to get paid for our work, our work is for God. We survive on what God gives us each day. But the donation they have given us today, we say thank you so much, may God bless you all, the businesses, and everyone who contributed."

Sr Sera said every donation given to them helps with paying for electricity, water, food supplies, and everything needed for elderly care. At the moment, there are 44 elderly citizens staying in the compound.