NASSAU, BAHAMAS — ‘Tis the season of giving, and with the whirlwind that is the holiday season comes the opportunity to give back to the causes and organizations that continue to support and serve the most underserved demographics in our society.
As has become a decades-long tradition, Bahamas Waste is capping the year with its annual donation to the All Saints Camp on New Providence as part of its ongoing effort to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic here on home soil.
For persons living with HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas, the All Saint’s Camp has been a refuge housing men, women and children who, for a variety of reasons, have nowhere to turn to.
Unfortunately, however, the hospice that provides food and shelter to its residents has seen donations plummet by as much as 70 percent due to challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Bahamas Waste Human Resources Manager Ernestine Seymour noted: “We have been working with the team at the All Saints Camp for more than 10 years.
“It is a partnership that is near and dear to both the staff and management because we understand how important it is to end the stigmatization of persons living with the disease.”
As has become the norm, each staff member at the waste company is invited to donate food and toiletry items to the cause. That staff donation is then matched by Bahamas Waste and presented to the team at the All Saint’s Camp just in time for the holiday season.
“We are particularly excited about this year’s donation because COVID-19 interrupted our donation efforts last year, so we’re happy to be getting back on track,” Seymour noted.
For the team at the All Saint’s Camp, the annual donation is an opportunity to meet the physical needs of its residents.
All Saints Camp Assistant Administrator Kayshala Forbes said: “We are so grateful to be partnered with companies like Bahamas Waste.
“We do our best with the limited resources but we could be doing so much more, which is why donations and partnerships like this are critical to our survival and the survival of our residents too.”
Though the end-of-year donation is often the highlight of the year for all involved, the relationship between Bahamas Waste and the hospice exists year-round.
Bahamas Waste Operations Manager Ethelyn Davis noted: “In addition to our annual donation, we provide medical waste disposal services, bulk and solid waste removal services to the facility year-round.”
The move, company executives note, is part of a wider campaign of support in the fight to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, one which encompasses the company’s support of annual testing initiatives and educational programs as well.
In a statement the company said: “For us, our partnership with the All Saint’s Camp speaks to our commitment as a company to really make a significant impact in the communities we serve.
“We’re leading by example and hope that even more corporate citizens will step up to the plate to not just raise awareness but provide meaningful assistance.”
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