Four local organisations that offer specialist health and humanitarian services to the community are the recipients of WST$12,000 in funding donated by employees of Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B.).

The funding which was presented on Friday came courtesy of the S.S.A.B. Staff Social Club, which they raised through a corporate table fundraising last Saturday.

Each one of the four organisations received a $3,000 check each from the staff of the local company with the S.S.A.B. Chief Executive Officer, Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai and her Staff Social Club President Manu Ken Saifoloi with their association committee members presenting the checks.

The representatives of Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.), Mapuifagalele Little Sisters of the Poor, Goshen Trust Mental Health Institute, and Samoa Cancer Society were each presented with a $3,000 check.

Ms. Saifoloi told the Samoa Observer that the money was raised last Saturday during one of their fundraising events.

"The money we raised from the event last Saturday, S.S.A.B. Staff Social Club Fundraiser, was used to help out with some of the charity organizations in Samoa,” she said.

“The association is made up of almost 200 employees, they all contributed to planning this event and the donation."

She added that despite the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown early this year, they were still able to pull off the fundraising event, which resulted in the $12,000 being raised for donation to the various organisations.

One of the recipients of the donation, Sister Maureen from Mapuifagalele, told this newspaper that they are grateful for the gesture from S.S.A.B. and its employees.

"As we are here at S.S.A.B. to receive this donation, we really thank God for the blessings and the graces that we've received,” Sister Maureen said.

"So they have given us $3,000 today. We are very grateful because we can use this money to pay for our bills and also to look after the needs of our residents.”

Originally from Kenya, Sister Maureen said Samoa is now her home, having lived here for the last eight years.

"We are so grateful to serve our own people and Samoa is like my next home and we give our lives to serve the poor and we are happy to do it.

"I would like to say thank you to Ms. Fiti and the whole team of S.S.A.B. because they have been kind to us all these years where they have supported us and are always available to help us out.”

All the other recipients of the $3,000 donation checks also expressed their appreciation to the S.S.A.B. C.E.O. and her employees. 

The check donations to the four organisations, according to the company’s management, is part of their efforts to celebrate Samoa’s 60th Independence anniversary by giving back to the people of Samoa who contributed to their growth and success.