Mr. Ricki Rouphine of the Anguilla Red Cross
The Anguilla Progressive Association in New York (APANY) is continuing to make useful and much-appreciated donations to community organisations on the island.
The latest contributions, made on Monday this week, were US$1,000 towards the Anguilla Red Cross wheelchair bus project, and various supplies to two privately-run senior citizens homes (Tender Loving Care and Just TenderCare), the Health Ministry at the Bethel Methodist Church and the Diabetic Association of Anguilla.
The donations were made by APANY’s President, Carlson Lloyd, who was accompanied by his wife and other members of the organisation now visiting Anguilla.
In acknowledging APANY’s donation, Red Cross Coordinator, Ricky Rouphine, said the gift had brought the fund for the wheelchair bus project to US$34,000 so far. He disclosed that there was a need for an additional US$16,000 to reach the target of US$50,000 – the cost of the 2012 vehicle to be imported from the UK. He added that with the help of other funding sources the vehicle should be in Anguilla by September.
Mr Lloyd credited Anguillian Aubrey Rogers, an Attorney in New York, for bringing the need of the Red Cross vehicle to APANY’s attention as a project it should support. “We usually do an annual dinner/dance in commemoration of Anguilla Day, but last year we fell short of our goal so we could not facilitate the funding at that time,” he said. “However, we decided that by any means necessary we have to make that contribution to the Red Cross as it is a needy cause. This year we made a small profit which we are able to share in donating the one thousand US dollars.”
Mr Lloyd said that APANY had achieved a not-for-profit status in the United States and was registered with the Federal Government. “It means that if anything happens to Anguilla – whether it is struck by a hurricane or by any other event – people in North America can make donations through us and get a tax write-off for their contribution,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the supplies, which APANY also presented to the above-mentioned community groups, were donated by various persons in the New York. The supplies, including One Touch testing machines for diabetic patients, linen and sanitary items, were presented by Mrs Yolande Richardson, a retired but still active member of APANY, now back home in Anguilla.
