One of Barbados’ youngest charities, Build Up Bim, gave away over $3,000 worth of groceries, female hygiene products and franchise restaurant food in celebration of the charity’s third anniversary over the Easter weekend.
Founder of the Charity Don Leacock told Barbados TODAY that he was very grateful for the growth, love and support his charity received from the inception.
“Build Up Bim is an organisation that we put our blood, sweat and tears into, so to see it flourishing like this, we, the entire team, are just eternally grateful,” he said, adding that it was the largest give back to date.
Food hampers were distributed to the less fortunate in communities such as Silver Sands, St Christopher, Scarborough, Oistins, Bath Village, Chapman Lane, Nelson Street and other parts of The City.
Don Leacock ensured that many Barbadian households were on the receiving end of the Build up Bim Easter give back.
“Many say we’re one of the most impactful community outreach organisations in the country, so we just try to take action every day to solidify that status.”
Leacock also said that according to those in the communities, hygiene products for females were most requested.
Team member with Build Up Bim and model Jalicia Nightengale was all about serving those within the communities.
“I’d like to underscore the female hygiene products [and their importance]. We’d like to see free female hygiene products around universities, pharmacies and clinics just like we do condoms. There’s no way condoms are socially acceptable [and given] freely, and these aren’t. Sex is voluntary, menstruation isn’t,” he added.
The Chartered Accountant also urged the government and private sector to support initiatives to eradicate period poverty.
He said the charity hopes to start a mentoring programme for teenagers. “Our main goals this year are to officially begin our mentoring programme for teenagers on goals and career progression and start a food bank. Economic times only get worse, they never get better, so now is the perfect time for both the public and private sectors to invest in our nation’s food security and make sure the most vulnerable are always taken care of,” the young business consultant added.
The Build up Bim team on the road.
The charity said it’s thankful for its partners including Atlantic Marketing, Tile Gallery, Rachel McCartney from Terra, Little Caesars, Chicken Barn, Music & Echo, Corporate America and other individual donors.
(MR)
