Red Cross opens new building in Cayo
The Red Cross is one of those organisations we think about only when we need them–usually in an emergency. But if we wait for disaster to strike before we build an institution, the effort will invariably come too late. On Wednesday a new Red Cross centre was opened and the community gathered to celebrate.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The ceremony officially inaugurating the San Ignacio Red Cross building was well attended by Cayo residents and those parties who were instrumental in the construction was made possible through fund raising drives in the western community.
Nolberta Pulido Perez, Vice Chairperson, San Ignacio Red Cross
“This Red Cross building is a result of the effort made by many of you who have come forth to be community minded. And as community minded individuals, we will try through our sympathies to lift some burdens of our fellow humans and so heal our souls too.”
The building, which took two years to build, will be more than just another branch of the Belize Red Cross.
Eamon Courtenay, President, Belize Red Cross
“In addition to serving as a branch headquarters, this facility will be an excellent emergency operations centre, relief distribution centre and training facility. The San Ignacio branch will offer these activities in times of need, but it is important to emphasize that this facility will also be used and made available for income generating activities, whether they be workshops or other functions.”
Another significant contribution came from Courts Belize. The furniture and appliance store is celebrating its fifth anniversary while its international parent, celebrates one hundred and fifty years of service. As part of the celebration, Courts branches worldwide are making major donations to their local Red Cross societies. Not only will the Belize Red Cross benefit from the pledge of twenty-five thousand dollars but the new branch in Cayo has also received a supply of furniture and equipment.
Anamarie Bennett, Advertising/Promotion Executive, Courts Belize
“Courts Belize is pledging to donate twenty-five thousand dollars to the Belize Red Cross. With this campaign, we have several events planned to assist us in reaching this goal. For this month, for every purchase made at Courts Belize, we will donate five dollars to the Belize Red Cross. Also, we have the official Red Cross collection boxes in each Courts store for customers to make contributions. To launch this campaign, we are today making an initial donation of furniture and electrical products to this new San Ignacio branch. The products being presented today are a refrigerator, a butane stove, a kerosene stove and forty-eight plastic chairs. Other products will follow by the end of next week and some of them are still in production. These will include a conference table, a dozen chairs, six folding tables, three desks with chairs, two books shelves, six fans, pots, pans, kettles, mattresses, TV, VCR, and radio.”
Bennett appealed to the public to support the fund raising campaign.
