800 Families Celebrate Christmas Thanks to the Salvation Army

Eight hundred needy families will be celebrating Christmas with goodies courtesy of the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas hamper drive. The first group of families received their grocery packages at three different locations in the city, while the remaining families in the district will get their Christmas treats on Friday. The number of recipients grew this year through partnership with good corporate citizens. Duane Moody was on hand and has this report.

Annette Diego, Recipient

“It comes in very handy especially right now since I noh deh work and I got my kids dehn weh I have to take care of. So it come in very good for me.”

Duane Moody, Reporting

A total of eight hundred families from within the Belize District have been chosen as the lucky recipients of food hampers courtesy of the Salvation Army. Across the city this morning—on Orange, Regent and Castle Street—city residents gathered to receive a bag filled with groceries, just in time for the Christmas holidays. Regional Commander for the Salvation Army, Major Joliker Leandre spoke of the annual initiative and how it has grown over the years.

Major Joliker Leandre, Regional Commander, Salvation Army

“Today, we are very pleased to distribute food parcels to voer five hundred people around Belize City. So while we are here, there are two other distributions—at Castle Street and also Cemetery Road—and by tomorrow we will hit the road for the country side area. So we’ll distribute a total of eight hundred this year.”

Laurie Banner Herrera

The event goes well in line with its mission to help the less fortunate people in Belize. The humanitarian organization partners with many sponsors for the Kettle Drive and their annual children Christmas party. The Belize Bank stepped in once again and supported the Salvation Army.

Laurie Banner Herrera, PR Manager, Belize Bank

“The Belize Bank is pleased to partner with the Salvation Army. Earlier in December, we partnered with them at the Kettle Launch, where we donated five thousand dollars. And we continue this initiative as part of our social corporate responsibility. Five of our staff are out here today helping with the distribution of the parcels of food for the needy families.”

Duane Moody

“This is just one of the activities that you guys do year around and specifically during the Christmas time. Talk to us about that.”

Laurie Banner Herrera

“As I said earlier, a big part of our mission and vision is our corporate social responsibility. We give back to the community which we live and work. At the end of the day, the community is our backbone they are the reason why we are here and we have to give back to our community and the Belize Bank stands firm in doing that.”

Joliker Leandre

Major Joliker Leandre

“We also have Petrocaribe and a number of other sponsors and it is because of their generosity that we are able to do what we do today. In the bag, we have everything for a Christmas treat. We have rice, beans, flour, sugar, corn beef, milk…anything that you would want to use for Christmas.”

Duane Moody for News Five.