Appeal closer to its goal

The Salvation Army’s 2021 Christmas Kettle Appeal has so far raised $424 000 for 2021 and according to Divisional Business Manager Sherma Evelyn, the organisation will reach its $700 000 target.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday during the Army’s annual Christmas luncheon for the needy at its Bridgetown headquarters on Reed Street, Evelyn said at this time when many are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is significant that the target is met to sustain the non-profit organisation’s outreach programmes.

The appeal was launched on November 5 at Heroes Square and is scheduled to close off at the end of January 2022.

“We have this feeding programme going on and then during the year we have our pantry programme so that money will help supply groceries for the pantry programme where we are able to give out to people. They don’t necessarily want to come to the centre for a meal but they are able to cook a meal for their family so we give them a certain amount of groceries to last them a month and then they will return a month later to get another set.

“And people do come off the pantry programme. We have had a number of persons who weren’t working, but now with the tourism opening back they have gone back to work so they have come off the programme, but for Christmas we still gave them,” Evelyn said.

Three-hundred and fifty persons, 65 of them on the meals on wheels programme, benefited from the Christmas luncheon. The Divisional Business Manager extended gratitude to corporate Barbados for making donations to the Christmas meals.

However, Evelyn said Cherish Cosmetique Inc must be especially commended and thanked for stepping up to the plate to provide the groceries to prepare the meals for the less fortunate.

“We are not seated inside because of COVID. We are doing the take-away lunch so our volunteers are outside and they are handing the meals to the persons and the recipients are just nicely going through the other gate so that there is a measure of control to observe the COVID protocols. We did it the same way last year and it went so smoothly that we actually like this way better than actually going inside the building.

“When we do it in the building, we actually have to do two sessions and half the persons come for 12 p.m. and the other half come at 1:30 p.m. and it always causes a bit of confusion because some people get their meal and then they don’t want to leave so some of them end up getting a meal twice. But this way, they get the meal and they leave so that everyone can get from what has been provided,” she said. (AH)