Belize Bank Gives Big to Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy Drive

The Belize Bank Limited has engaged in several community-based initiatives over the years, specifically during the Christmas Season…from its annual Christmas party for the students of Stella Maris to hampers for needy families and even donations to the Salvation Army’s annual Toy Drive. For the third year in a row, the Belize Bank is coming out swinging and is making a loaded donation of toys for boys and girls to the Salvation Army. Annually, the toy-drive initiative would see two thousand five hundred youths receive a gift; Belize City alone constitutes over eight hundred and fifty of those children. The donation was officially handing over by Belize Bank’s Misty Michael to Salvation Army’s Regional Commander, Major Joliker Leandre.

Major Joliker Leandre, Regional Commander, Salvation Army

“We want to express our gratitude to Belize Bank, who, for the past three years, has been very supportive of the Salvation Army along with other citizens and businesses. So it is because of businesses like that that we are able to do the things that we do. So we are very grateful for the toys; it is part of the toy drive and it is the kickoff I would say and we are very glad that Belize Bank has thought of us again this year.”

Misty Michael

Misty Michael, Belize Bank

“It’s one of the many initiatives that the Belize bank will be participating in during the Christmas season and we always welcome the opportunity to give back to the community and the Salvation Army is a perfect organization for us to support. Today we are donating fifteen hundred dollars worth of toys and it is toys for boys, girls, all ages.”

Major Joliker Leandre

“Drums are placed in several stores and persons are able to make their donations. But we are grateful for bigger donation like that that comes in very handy and that will help a great deal with this situation.”

Joliker Leandre

Duane Moody

“How many kids normally benefit from this initiative?”

Major Joliker Leandre

“Countrywide it is two thousand five hundred children, but in Belize City it is eight hundred fifty roughly. So we have one big Christmas party for seven hundred children that is at the Holy Redeemer  Parish on the eleventh [of December] and concurrently there is another party at Salvation Army School that will be held on the same day. So we are currently busy at this moment.”

The recipients of the toys are identified from various schools by the principals of the institutions.