Digicel, RTW contributes $4K of food items to FSN

Digicel BVI in collaboration with RiteWay Food Markets raised a combined $4,000 in food items for the Family Support Network (FSN) following the growing demand to feed families across the territory.

Marketing Executive at Digicel, Timothy Barker told BVI News on Tuesday that members of the public came out and supported the food drive which was held last Saturday.

“What we did is we actually contributed $2,000 worth of dry goods and cold storage. What RiteWay did is they matched us with the same amount and it was an amazing effort. We had persons there handing out little flyers and we gave shoppers that were going in to donate any of the items, even if it was one item on the list,” Barker stated.

Growing demand for food

The Marketing Executive also said recent discussions with FSN’s Executive Director Dr Maris Hodge-Wright revealed the growing demand for food in the territory from families who are in need.

As part of Digicel’s 12th anniversary, Barker said the organisation wanted to give back to the community in a way that will directly benefit them.

“Speaking to the executive, she stated that last year 2019 about 1,300 families were fed from the Family Support Network and last week she said that in September alone it was 1,300. So you understand the numbers and the kind of effort that is going into actually feeding the territory and it is something that we are very happy to do and we hope we can continue to partner with them and have this venture continue,” he said.

FSN made an appeal

In October, the Family Support Network made a public appeal to residents and businesses to donate to the organisation to assist with feeding families across the BVI.

Dr Hodge-Wright stated at the time stated that more persons had started utilising the services of the organisation since the advent of COVID-19. She said this resulted in the available resources quickly depleting in a much shorter time span.

Christmas initiative to give more than $40K

Meanwhile, in addition to the food drive, the Barker further said Digicel has more initiatives in store for this Christmas season that will benefit more residents.

This includes their Shake to Win competition which will allow customers an opportunity to win more than $30,000 worth of mobile services and $10,000 in cash.

“We have our Shake to Win campaign going on which will be giving back to the community up to $10,000 in prizes, $1000 cash for 10 winners. We also are launching tomorrow in our Bit Adventure app Bip Spin to Win where we are going to have prizes of credit, vouchers, tablets, TV’s, AirPods and we have a grand prize that we are still working on,” he explained.

Barker also said Digicel will be making a few stops across the territory, offering on-the-spot deals on various products and services to residents.