More families seeking help! FSN requesting donations
With poverty seemingly on the rise since the impact of COVID-19 locally, the Family Support Network (FSN) is appealing to residents and businesses to donate to the organisation to assist with feeding families across the BVI.
In a recent video broadcast, Executive Director of the FSN, Dr Maris Hodge-Wright said more persons had started utilising the services of the organisation which have resulted in the available resources quickly depleting in a much shorter time span.
She said: “Since COVID-19, the numbers of persons in our community seeking assistance for food from our food pantry has grown. It is to the point where we shop each Monday and by Tuesday our pantry is empty. We have no food to give to families in need.”
“We have seen families who came to our pantry to supplement what they had on a monthly basis. But now we are seeing families coming because they have absolutely nothing in their pantries. They have no food to give their children, no pampers for their babies to wear or no formula, so these are things that we are asking for. We are asking for assistance for things like baby pampers, formulas, milk, meat items, canned goods, whatever you can bring. We will have people who can take it,” the DSN boss explained.
Feel free to pick up and donate
Dr Hodge-Wright further said it is unfair to give families the bare minimum which would not last them an entire week. She, therefore, asked residents to look into their cabinets and donate any of the items they may have had stored for a long period.
“If you have canned goods that you have not used in over six months and you’re probably not going to use it, please donate it to the FSN. If you go to the supermarket and you feel led to pick up a pack of macaroni and cheese or a can of tuna fish extra, pick it up and donate it to the FSN,” she said.
Appeal to the business community to adopt a family
She also appealed to any corporation who may have funds that they can donate to lend their assistance.
“To those companies that already help us, we thank you. We are grateful because we do have some corporations who on a monthly basis send us some assistance. But there are many more who are not doing anything, and if you can, we are appealing to you because they’re many persons in our community right now who are suffering,” she stated.
“There are people who come who have not paid rent in the last four months who are on the verge of being displaced, we’re asking for your assistance. If you want to say, ‘let me adopt a family who’s having a difficult time’, [we welcome the help]. We [also] have people who are ill and cannot pay their hospital bills because they’re not working,” she added.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact the Family Support Network at 284-499-0999.
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Call on andrew trump because he said the economy is doing good
why would the private sector have to finance these donations? where is the VIP plan? Where is the stimulus money?
“Economy performing as expected”
Are those seeking help locals or expats???Many expats who are laid off are not getting any relief from the stimulus package yet the government not even giveing them some grocery. Some of these mothers have kids to feed i dont know why they are bias with the covid relief funds.
I sick ah this begging ting. If we have foriegner experiencing financial hard ships, excort them out. If they are BVI LANDERS, OFFER THEM A BROOM, MOP, SHOVEL, CUTLASS,HAMMER and GUIDE THEM TO A JOB. I REFUSE TO CONTRIBUTE!!
I think that those who are strong are the ones seeking help. Many of them have lands plant it or lease it out. You will get money.
That’s the TRUE BVILOVE! No empathy, compassion or love for your fellow man? Get to church and pray for your soul. You are a terrible example of a human being, but a shining beacon of self-loathing, selfishness and disregard for your fellow man.
Where has the culture of volunteerism, community outreach and brotherhood gone in these islands? You should be ashamed of yourself for promoting hatred. One day soon, you will need to answer for your darkened soul.
HOW MUCH REAL BVI LANDERS ASE REALLY GETTING ANY HELP IT SEEMS THAT THE OUTSIDERS IS THE ONES WHO GETTING HEL[ I HNOW PEOPLE WHO APPLY TO SOCIAL DEELOPMENT FOR JUST A LITTLE HELP TO PAY SOME BILLS THEY WERE TOLD THEY CANNOT GET SUE TO ALL KINDS OF FAULTS BUT THE DEPARTMENT IS FINDING MONEY TO GIVE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CARVIN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER YOU ARE GETTING TOLD A LOT OF COCK A MANIA STORIES WHY PEOPLE ARE TOLD STORIES OF NOT BE ABLE TO GET HELP
Am so tired when will I be able to go back to work to feed my kids and pay my bills apply for my stimulus money all now am a BVI Island am out of job since March and the government trying to do nothing what about the mothers out there who living from pay day to pay day