Red Cross moves to boost income as donations slow down

The Barbados Red Cross Society (BRCS) is among local charitable organisations feeling some pressure from the rising cost of living, which has also been having a crippling effect on finances and the ability to sustain several services.

Director General Danielle Toppin said that along with growing instability and dwindling donations to the society, there has been a noticeable increase in requests from members of the public asking to be added to the Meals on Wheels and pantry programmes.

During an interview with Barbados TODAY Toppin said that at this time when more persons are requesting meals, the organisation is fearful that if the financial situation worsens, the existing number of persons benefiting from the meals programme may have to be cut.

She said over 100 persons receive a hot meal five days per week through the Meals on Wheels Programme.

Toppin said that while they gave out a significant number of food hampers during the lockdown, she would have thought that those numbers would be falling at this time. Instead, she has noticed that even more persons are calling asking for food items, placing a burden on the pantry programme.

“We are seeing increasing demand for the services and of course a reduction in donations being made to the organisation affecting our capacity to actually meet those needs and take on additional people in the programmes. We have had to tell people that we don’t offer food at this point.

“Even the donors who would have previously been allowing that type of funding are shifting more to other areas that they are focusing on like vaccination and immunization. So there is not as much support for food and that’s where the demand is and has remained from the beginning of COVID until now. We have had other areas where the demand has increased but definitely where food is concerned, it has remained consistent,” she said.

On Tuesday, Divisional Business Manager at the Salvation Army Sherma Evelyn reported that in recent months, the Army recorded a significant increase in vulnerable persons requesting assistance with food, clothing, and even shelter as they struggle to cope with the rise in the cost of living. Evelyn said the Army has been turning away newcomers because they are unable to meet their needs.Toppin said the persons requesting help include single mothers, casual workers and the unemployed.

She noted that the Red Cross has realized that in order to remain sustainable, the organisation must appeal to the corporate sector in a different way to cover recurring costs, including purchasing materials for the meals programme.

She said the Red Cross must take a business-oriented approach to finding new types of income generation opportunities.

“If we don’t, the reality is that we would have to close some of our services and the Meals on Wheels is one. We do get a government subvention but that doesn’t cover the expenses associated with that.

“If we don’t make that shift as an organisation, we would no longer be able to provide that service. And this is a service that we have never stopped during COVID.

“For some people, it is their only source of food and particularly the elderly persons. It is one of our more longstanding and consistent services. That would be one of the first hit areas for us if we are not able to make that shift as an organisation,” she said.

Toppin further explained that the society, which has implemented strategies to reduce operational costs, has stepped up marketing for its first aid service, which is an additional source of income. She said the management has also been calling on organisations and encouraging them to exercise their corporate social responsibility, particularly seeking to enter new partnerships with supermarkets.

Toppin applauded the Mia Amor Mottley administration’s recent announcement that approximately 1200 vulnerable households including 200 disabled families would receive support through an initiative to cope with the rising cost of living.

Toppin suggested that there is a need for Government agencies and charitable organisations to streamline operations to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are the ones who receive assistance.

She indicated that in the absence of a streamlined database, some vulnerable persons might not be reached.

“There is a dire need for a food bank. I think we are moving into a time when we have to really not give people the fish but teach them to fish.

“It goes beyond just speaking about the need for homemade gardens and growing your own food to really investing in that  type of support. Not just with seeds but really to promote it as a way of life. There may come a time that even with money, there is no access to the things that you typically would buy,” Toppin  said. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb