NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In celebration of World Food Day, the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) and the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (RCOB) joined forces to donate $55,000 worth of food vouchers to 11 organizations to assist in the fight against hunger.
Donations were given during a presentation at the network’s Fox Hill Community Centre temporary headquarters.
BFN Executive Director Phillip Smith said: “While the operations and funding of the National Food Distribution Task Force, which we were a member of, recently ended, our commitment to feeding the hungry has not.
“During the pandemic, we were responsible for 17 Family Islands in addition to the southeastern section of New Providence, comprising of approximately 5,000 families.
“Prior to joining the task force, our supply chain included allocating meals and food parcels to our member partners, who would in turn distribute the items to their membership and persons within their communities. We’re now continuing in that vein and are happy to relaunch, so to speak, in recognition of World Food Day.”
Each organization is receiving $5,000 to be used for purchases at select wholesalers such as AML Foods, Jamaica Bahama Imports, Milo Butler Distributors, Bahamas International Foods and others. Recipients of this first round of donations included Unity House, the AIDS Foundation, the Crisis Centre, Teen Challenge, Ranfurly Homes for Children, Eljay’s Hilltop Cottage Ministries, Families of All Murdered Victims, Cornerstone Zion Church, Creative Christian Arts Ministries International, Ambassador Chorale and Great Commission Ministries.
Like Rotary International, the local Rotary clubs assist with sustainable projects that tackle hunger and food insecurity. With Rotary being a long-time BFN partner, a joint partnership was created where BFN and Rotary Bahamas donated a total of $55,000.
Carla Card-Stubbs, assistant governor, Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, said: “As a community-inspired response to the economic fallout and the resultant social and community challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Rotary Bahamas entered discussions with the Bahamas Feeding Network to execute a targeted program.
“The restriction of movement with the loss of work opportunities made it very difficult for many households to have reliable and consistent access to food, a basic need. This program is designed to benefit particularly vulnerable groups via a food assistance programme to assist persons who sometimes fall through the cracks of the social support network.”
In addition to the joint partnership, four wholesalers collectively donated a total of $35,000 for the second round of the overall initiative. Donations were given by AML Foods, Jamaica Bahama Imports, Milo Butler Distributors and Bahamas International Foods.
Smith shared his gratitude with those at the press conference.
“I say this time and time again that the Bahamas Feeding Network would not be the arm of support for so many as it has been over the years if it were not for the generous financial assistance and in-kind donations we’ve received from businesses, organizations and individuals,” said Smith.
“Our friends at Rotary have been with us for the journey and we’re pleased that we’ve joined forces once again in this initiative.”
