The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa at Vaitele-uta presented a $10,000 donation to the Government to assist with the measles effort.

The donation was acknowledged by the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, when he addressed Parliament earlier this month regarding the first supplementary budget for 2020/2021. 

According to Sili the $10,000 donation was presented in June 2020. The assistance from the Vaitele congregation that hosts the annual 13 days of Christmas event does not include a $300,000 presented by the C.C.C.S. church in December last year for measles.

A member of the Vaitele congregation confirmed the donation was presented to the Prime Minister in December 2019 after the 13 Days of Christmas event was cancelled due to measles restrictions. 

In the midst of the country’s fight against the measles last year, the C.C.C.S. church presented a separate $300,000 cheque to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi at the time. 

C.C.C.S. General Secretary, Rev. Vavatau Taufao at the presentation said he hopes the donation would help Samoa during a time of crisis. 

He noted that if there are any other incoming donations from within the church for the same purpose, it will be delivered in the near future to add on to the measles fund.  

Rev. Tuafao said the amount was collected during a donation drive from all church members. 

Tuilaepa in accepting the donation acknowledged the generosity from the church that was handed over to the National Emergency Operation Centre that oversees the national response crisis. 

By January this year the Government reported a $700,000 donation from fundraising for the measles fight. 

According to the Chairman of N.E.O.C. at the time, Ulu Bismarck Crawley, majority of assistance was mainly clothing for children and toys for Christmas last year.