FSN feeds 20 families since flooding

While declaring that the Family Support Network (FSN) cannot accommodate persons who are seeking shelter as a result of the tropical wave that hit the territory last Monday, Director of the non-profit organization Dr Sylvia Simmons said approximately 20 families have sought and received food from FSN since the tropical wave.

She added that food and clothing are still available for people in need.

“We are seeing a lot of persons coming in for assistance, and we try to ration the food so people get certain portions. It’s also based on the size of family, but we are getting food and we thank God for that,” Dr Simmons told BVI News Online.

While encouraging the public to continue to donate food and items of clothing, she stated that other commodities are also needed.

“Bedding and towels is one of the big demands from people [who were affected by the flood]. They also need cleaning stuff such as mops because people got hit so hard. They lost a number of the stuff in their homes.”

Dr Simmons, in the meantime, explained why FSN is not in a position to help persons seeking accommodation as a result of the recent flood.

“We do not have apartments or places where we could put persons… I recommend that they go to Social Development – or maybe Red Cross can accommodate,” she said.

Dr Simmons further stated that, as far as accommodation is concerned, FSN’s primary duty is to the victims of domestic abuse.

“When a client is in an emergency situation because her husband beat her up and put her out, or his girlfriend put him out, then we need to accommodate plans to ensure those clients are appropriately placed based on their situation. But, in relation to the weather situation, we don’t have housing accommodation.”