Households urged to donate $25 to Christmas campaign

Gift of giving: Gina Spence-Virgil and Mykiee Jones, front centre, from the Gina Spence Programme, with Bermuda Post Office workers Tamara Tucker, left, Chuck Santiago and Keith Wainwright, Olatnji Tucker, of BGA, Deanne Hart, from the Phoenix Pharmacy, and Rollin Nathan, elder at Restoration Ministries (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Hundreds are still feeling the economic brunt of Covid-19, the head of a local charity has warned.

Gina Spence-Virgil, the founder and chief executive of the Gina Spence Programme, said some of the more than 2,000 residents who lost their jobs during the pandemic remained unemployed.

She explained: “Some of those people are still looking for work and some have not been able to catch up from being out of work for so long.

“We did a survey this year asking people what their losses are, whether it be loss of a job, loss of income or a terminal illness.

“Those answers have come back very strong — people have had immense loss and we need to meet their basic needs.”

GSP’s annual Christmas Gift of Giving campaign will help about 500 families meet that need.

Ms Spence-Virgil encouraged every household on the island to contribute $25 towards this year’s programme, which will provide children with toys, healthy-food hampers to families and seniors with pharmaceutical gift cards.

Mykiee Jones, the charity’s chief operating officer, highlighted a letter from a woman whose grandchildren, whom she has been raising since her daughter passed away, would receive Christmas presents through this campaign.

Ms Jones said: “This is why we do what we do; these are the stories of joy and hope that your donation of $25 can bring.

“Together, we can ensure that no child, no family or senior, is forgotten over Christmas.”

The charity hopes to raise $75,000 through this year’s campaign, which has helped more than 5,000 families since its formation seven years ago.

Several organisations, including Restoration Ministries, BGA, the Bermuda Post Office and the Phoenix Pharmacy have partnered with GSP for the campaign.

Rollin Nathan, elder at Restoration Ministries, has also seen an increased need in the community.

He explained: “As a church, we recognise that we are getting more requests for gift vouchers, food and distribution — people are asking more than they normally do.

“Ms Spence-Virgil is one of those grassroots people that is always on the ground, making sure that people are taken care of.

“As a church, we do the same, but an organisation like this gives us a better privilege to spread out a little further.”

• People have until Saturday to contribute to the campaign and all donated items will be distributed from 3pm to 4pm at TN Tatem in Warwick on that day.