Give and give generously

The season and spirit of giving was alive at Heroes Square, Bridgetown, Friday morning for the launch of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Appeal hosted by Scotiabank.

Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic encouraged citizens to participate in philanthropic efforts despite the turbulent times that will ensue.

“I am [saying to] all Barbadians, in spite of their circumstances and situations, in spite of what difficulties we may be going through as a country, that God says to us that we should give. We should give from the heart,” said the Member of Parliament for the City of Bridgetown.

“It is [not] a question of whether or not we have enough, or whether or not we ourselves are experiencing difficulty. At the end of the day, there are always persons who are in a worse situation,” he continued.

Bostic called on Barbadians of all walks of life to dig deep in their pockets and donate to the non-governmental organization which has helped the vulnerable groups in society for more than 100 years. In 2017, the Salvation Army accumulated $539, 000 in donations and their target for 2018 is to $650, 000.

“Even if we don’t have the amount we would usually give the Salvation Army, I am asking you to give a little every week and each time you go to the supermarket,” he beseeched the public.

Also in attendance was Minister in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Neil Rowe who lauded the Salvation Army for its contributions to impoverished communities and reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to empowering families.

“We are all aware of the challenges facing our country and by extension our citizens and my ministry will endeavour to strengthen the social safety net for families by ensuring a minimum household income below which no Barbadian family shall fall,” said Rowe.

“It is recognized that the task of assisting the poor cannot be borne alone and the Government is committed to empowering non-governmental organizations by providing yearly subventions enabling them to execute their mandates and meet their objectives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army Major Darrell Wilson instructed the public to not only make monetary donations but also donate their time and talents to the betterment of people.

“We need to inspire hope in these morally, economically, socially and spiritually challenging times. [Hope] will not be accomplished merely with our financial resources and support but by offering ourselves, our skills, our time and our expertise to the benefit of others,” Wilson stressed.  (KK)