NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a generous donation of $200,000 by Private Trust and its clients, the residents of the Ranfurly Homes for Children are slowly returning to their normal activities outside of the home.
Nearly 30 youngsters now have reliable transport to and from counseling sessions, field trips and extracurricular activities.
Representatives of Private Trust, Managing Director Adrian Crosbie-Jones and Human Resources Manager Lashonda L Seymour, recently handed keys to a brand-new bus to Ranfurly Homes for Children Vice President Latoya Polacek.
Crosbie-Jones said: “It’s very important that residents of Ranfurly Homes for Children get back to some sense of normality beyond the activities they take part in at the home.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world. Charities have especially felt the economic brunt of the coronavirus due to an unemployment spike and slow business activity experienced by many donors who did not, or still do not, have disposable income to make their usual donations.
“Further, the lockdowns have prevented Ranfurly Homes from undertaking the fundraising events essential to its economic survival.”
Polacek underscored: “The Ranfurly Homes for Children’s donations have decreased by 60 to 70 percent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as the country opens back up economically, the need to get the home’s residents to and from school, extracurricular and social activities is also picking up again.”
She added: “The Ranfurly Homes provides comprehensive child care services for displaced children due to death, separation, abuse, abandonment, illness or other unfortunate circumstances. This donation gives our residents direct access to the activities and services they participate in during their stay here.”
Seymour commended the Ranfurly Homes for Children for its extraordinary and unwavering holistic approach to childcare.
“You involve the children in so many programs that make a big difference in their development,” she said.
“We look forward to maintaining this partnership, assisting as best as we can.”
Private Trust’s $200,000 donation will be used over the next year in several ways to improve life for the children and staff of the Ranfurly Homes for Children. The new bus is the first item to be bought and other necessities will be met during 2022.
The company has committed to continuing its support of local charities in recognition and support of the great work they do, even during the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
