Having heard about the AXA Cares Food Bank that for the last couple of months has been offering assistance to families on Anguilla who at this time are struggling to properly feed their families, many people are now asking how the project started and how it functions.
Despite their initial desire to remain well in the background and wishing no recognition the group who developed the idea have decided to make public the actual history of the Food Bank so that all will understand how it was started and how it functions.
In September 2011 two Anguillians talked about the fact that so many people on Anguilla were finding it difficult to continue paying bills, such as their electric bills and thus being forced to discontinue their electric supplies. In November their discussions shifted to families struggling to properly feed themselves and their families.
Claudette Bryan of East End has been in the front of volunteering in the community for many years and is well known by most Anguillians as someone who truly cares and is always ready with a helping hand. She has worked with Charlotte Berglund of Sea Feathers for at least 20 years and they have developed a strong trusting relationship. Their many discussions lead them to the decision to buy a box of groceries for a family she knew who needed assistance. But then the questions came up…. “what about other people?” “What happens next week?”
This lead to talking about a food bank that would be able to reach a larger number of families on the island with a more continuous supply of groceries. They both felt this would be a great idea for the island, but also realized that there was no way that two people could do this effectively.
Claudette suggested that we present our thoughts to two people she has actively worked with in the community and who also had community organizations with which they each worked.
As result, on December 1, 2011 Mrs. Bryan and Mrs. Berglund meet with Cora Hodge of The HOPE Centre on East End and Othyln Vanterpool who is active with the Welches Community Group to present their idea. With no persuasion , they both immediately accepted the idea stating….. “let’s do it!” “Let’s do it for Christmas!” And the AXA CARES FOOD BANK was formed under the wing of The HOPE Centre.
A week later a second meeting was held at which time Dedria Bradshaw of The Welches joined the group with willingness to help plan and organize the effort. By working with the goal of Christmas in mind it was possible to do a distribution of food boxes to 26 families on the 23rd of December in time for Christmas.
With continued support of caring persons on Anguilla who have generously donated money as well of food stuffs, and with the generous help of Ashley’s, Lakes Grocery. JW Proctors, Best Buy, Merchants Market, Haskins LTD, Frankie Lakes gardens and Tropical Distributors up to 50 boxes are now being prepared and distributed weekly.
A big boost was given by the local Optimist Club with a very generous donation of food supplies.
With no prompting a number of people across the island have called and asked if they could represent their area and thus be able to sponsor families they know are in need of assistance. Each representative has accepted the responsibility of picking up and delivering the food boxes to the families they sponsor every week.
In this way many families have been included for assistance but it is realized that there are still a few more families who qualify for assistance and it is felt that soon these families will be covered as representatives come forward asking to be a part of the Food Bank.
Support and assistance is appreciated not only by those working the Food Bank but the families who receive the much needed assistance.
Efforts are underway to place a barrel in a number of grocery stores so that anyone shopping can easily add an item of their choice to the food bank supplies. For those who wish to contribute a case of a food Sheila Haskins has generously volunteered to collect boxes at the Haskins Store in The Valley. Monetary donations are accepted by The HOPE Centre for the FOOD BANK.
