Popular grocer urges shoppers to “open their hearts” to the hungry this holiday season
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Super Value yesterday provided a cheque of $12,000 to Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN), proving a little bit of change can go a long way.
The funds were raised through change donated at the cash register at Super Value stores throughout New Providence as part of an ongoing partnership between Super Value and BFN; and came with a plea for shoppers to open their hearts and contribute their change at the cash register to make sure no one goes hungry this holiday season.
A statement released by Super Value noted that the partnership kicked off a little over one month ago with an initial contribution of $100,000 and has since been raising money through its POS (point of sale system) throughout New Providence.
At a cheque presentation ceremony at the grocery chain’s Golden Gates headquarters yesterday, Super Value President Debra Symonette said: “Super Value would like to thank all of our customers for the generous donation to the Feeding Network. In such a short time, the public has donated over $12,000 — just by a few customers donating their change.
“This is the time of the year that’s known for giving and if each customer donates his or her change or just $1 each week during the next three months, we will raise over $2 million for the Feeding Network.
“Super Value and the Roberts family that feeds the nation have already donated over a quarter of a million dollars towards feeding the needy. We cannot let anybody go hungry during this holiday season or during this pandemic, so give generously! Have a wonderful Christmas.”
BFN Executive Director Philip Smith thanked Super Value and stressed the importance of such partnerships.
“Hunger has always been an issue in The Bahamas when, even in good times with nearly full employment, government statistics show nearly one in every seven people lives below the poverty line,” he said.
“Since the COVID pandemic, we have seen a steady increase in the numbers who need assistance with food and it is even hard for us to fathom though we see it on a daily basis that nearly one in every two households today faces hunger at some level and needs assistance.
“We could not do what we do without the support of people like Rubert Roberts and his family and Super Value and our other corporate and individual sponsors.
“Our volunteers shirts say what they do with their time — give, give, give — and we ask those who can afford to [do] so to give, give, give when they are checking out at a Super Value line.”
