Various organisations throughout Anguilla have been recognised and celebrated at a special reception at Government House, the official residence of the Governor, for their voluntary work. The event, on Tuesday evening, December 6, was in observance of International Volunteers’ Day.
Governor Christina Scott welcomed the large gathering of adults and young people as well as business representatives and members of Parliament.
“I have had great pleasure putting this reception together,” she stated. “We have thought of all the organisations around Anguilla that are doing something in the community and are giving back to the young people and others who need support, as the organisations look to the future to build a better and brighter Anguilla.”
She further told the representatives: “You are here because the organisations to which you give your energy and your time, your money and your organisational skills, are enormously grateful for the work you do – so too are we.”
Head of the Anguilla Red Cross, Mr. Ricky Rouphine, commended all the organisations for their work. “The reason we are holding this event is because across Anguilla lots of people are engaged in voluntary activities – and are making major impacts on our community in numerous ways,” he explained.
For its part, according to Mr. Rouphine, the Anguilla Red Cross will be making a major contribution to health in due course for the benefit of the community.
“The Anguilla Rotary Club joined with Mr. Albert Lake to give us a half acre of land, and we will raffle that land and work towards getting a blood bank,” he announced. “I am pleased to say that come January 27, the Anguilla Health Authority will have a blood bank at its facilities. That costs over a 100,000 dollars and that’s the kind of impact we are having in the community when we, as volunteers, come together to do something – rather than waiting for Government to do it.”
