NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Financier and philanthropist Jordan Spring is calling on the private sector to do more to help the less fortunate as food assistance efforts across the country grapple with rising costs.
The government’s Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) has been successful in sustaining hundreds of families through the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, yet thousands more continue to struggle to obtain the bare necessities.
Although many grassroots NGOs collect parcels from BFN to distribute to communities on a daily basis, others have had to be placed on a waiting list as the need continues to rise and are doing what they can to help struggling families in the meantime.
Spring, who is a dedicated donor to and supporter of food assistance initiatives, said difficult economic times affect everyone, but it is the least fortunate who always suffer the most.
“These have been a rough few years for families in The Bahamas,” said Spring.
“The Covid-19 pandemic practically shut down the economy and ended hundreds if not thousands of jobs. Now, the knock-on effect of inflation in the US has meant that even the most basic food supplies are going up in price.”
According to the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI), the Bahamas Consumer Price Index rose seven percent last year. With inflation continuing to be an issue in the United States where The Bahamas sources the vast majority of its food, there seems little chance that grocery bills will come down any time soon.
The Feeding Network has already acknowledged that it needs to increase funding by 20 percent to meet current needs, and Spring encouraged those who have the means, to either support the national initiative or give directly to grassroots NGOs that they trust.
“Donate according to your means,” he said.
“Donate in any way you can, even if it means helping out a single family, even just one time. Sustenance is among the most basic of human needs and communities should support those who are forced to struggle with something so fundamental,” said Spring, who recently made a significant donation to the Emergency Food Assistance (EFA) food coupon program.
“I know that I am among the lucky ones; I want to do what I can to pay it forward and encourage others to do so within their means as well.”
