B.T.B. and Red Cross Join Forces for COVID Relief in Toledo

The partnership between the Belize Tourism Board and the Belize Red Cross has resulted in the distribution of thirty-five food hampers among tour guides in southern Belize.  Over the weekend, representatives of the international voluntary aid organization visited Toledo District where the food baskets were handed out.  While it is the third community outreach initiative facilitated by BTB, for the Red Cross it is a milestone of four thousand families that have benefited from relief assistance.  News Five spoke with Director General Lily Bowman earlier today.

Lily Bowman

Lily Bowman, Director General, Belize Red Cross

“The Belize Red Cross has, since April, been implementing a food distribution [program] countrywide.  Of course our different donors contributed towards our distribution drive and the B.T.B. contacted us and said they wanted to contribute and they would like to do it through the Red Cross which we were very pleased to accept.  And so, in partnership they provided us with thirty-five additional food packages, specifically designated for the Toledo District and of course because we know that tour guides were really negatively affected by the COVID-19 situation we decided that apart from the older persons, persons with disabilities and the migrants that we have been targeting, we will be targeting tour guides from that district for their donation.  And so that’s what we did, we provided the thirty-five packages down in Toledo mostly to tour guides; I think one or two were other people.  But that’s what we did and we are very, very grateful for the partnership with the Belize Tourism Board and of course, as we are with all our other donors that have been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.  Without the donor’s support the Red Cross really can do very little.  Of course we have our international federation that stands by us as well and supports us in these times, but the local donors mean so much more for us because it is their response to the need among our own people.”