Hours of donated labor by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union culminated in the Wednesday shipment of 15 cargo containers full of supplies to tsunami victims in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
That number of containers would normally cost $45,000 in shipping costs alone, according to the ILWU, but laborers volunteered their time and shipping companies donated transportation and cargo boxes.
Containers headed to the islands are filled with nonperishable food, water, clothing, medical supplies, household goods and other items donated from around the country. The goods will be distributed to survivors of the Sept. 29 tsunami that struck Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
A 515-foot ship, the Cap Tapagato, was donated for the effort by shipping company ITS. Hamburg SUD and Polynesia Line lent cargo boxes, each with a capacity of 23,525 cubic feet.
There are significant Samoan and Tongan populations in Long Beach. But nearby Carson has the largest concentration of Samoans in the continental United States.
George Malauulu, an ILWU Local 13 longshoreman whose parents live in Samoa, helped organize the volunteer effort. To get the program going, he and other longshoremen of Samoan descent approached Local 13 in Long Beach about providing relief to tsunami survivors.
Local officials, as well as those at headquarters in San Francisco, approved the effort.
What awesome alofa from everyone involved. From those that approved it, to the those that asked and the Uso's that took action instead of forgetting those back home. Fa'a fetai i Le Atua and the faithfullness of passionate Polynesians and those that love us for making this happen. The job is not finished let's keep pressing forward with our skills and talents being a blessing - to bless others. Rock on Samoa!
What awesome alofa from everyone involved. From those that approved it, to the those that asked and the Uso's that took action instead of forgetting those back home. Fa'a fetai i Le Atua and the faithfullness of passionate Polynesians and those that love us for making this happen. The job is not finished let's keep pressing forward with our skills and talents being a blessing - to bless others. Rock on Samoa!
Talofa!
Big love and respect to George Malauulu and longshoreman USOs out there for what you've done for our Samoa's and Tonga.
May god bless everyone involved (steamship companies) ITS & Hamburg SUD /Polynesian line for the compassion and desire to help our islands as well in this hour of need.
This kindness will never be forgotten in the hearts of the Samoan people. True HEROs....thank you.
No words can express my gratitute towards the staff at Longshoreman and the Steamship Lines who made this possible. Much alofa's to George Malauulu and the Longshoreman USO's for your time and effort. God Bless!!