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by pltm
(PLTM) - The Family Support Network (FSN) has benefited from a donation of office furniture from CIBC FirstCaribbean.
The bank, which is in the process of refurbishing its offices in Road Town, liaised with Ms. Sasha Stoutt, Director of the FSN, to establish the charitable organisation’s administrative needs and set aside the furniture accordingly.
According to the bank, the donation of a conference table and chairs, reception chairs, and 2 sets of administrative desks and executive privacy desks and office chairs, will enable the current full-time team of 3 to work more effectively once the furniture is installed in new premises.
“Our current temporary space is very tight, and we are in the process of identifying a new location that we can operate out of properly,” said Ms. Stoutt.
She added, “All our existing furniture was trashed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and we are working at fold out tables amidst clothes, the pantry and volunteers. The office furniture we’ve received from CIBC FirstCaribbean is in great condition and will create a more conducive work environment for the staff and volunteers. We are also excited to be able to provide our clients with privacy during consultations.”
The donation of the office furniture is the latest support that the bank has given to the FSN. Over the past 11 months, CIBC FirstCaribbean has made a gift of $8000, provided pallets of hurricane relief supplies, and in May, staff organized an internal food drive for the pantry.
“The team at CIBC FirstCaribbean wholeheartedly believes in the invaluable community service provided by the FSN and never hesitates to endorse in-house initiatives or to reach out to the organization with bigger ticket items,” said Mrs. Lena Stoutt-Frett, Support Officer, Human Resources, CIBC FirstCaribbean. “It is rewarding to know that we can help make a difference with our efforts,” she added.
In 2016, FSN’s new clients totaled 244 and the food pantry alone fed 2,631 people. New clients in 2017 totaled 418 with the ages ranging from 18 to 97. In the months after the 2017 hurricanes, the total number of persons in households fed from September to December was 1,190. For the year 2017, the total number of persons in households fed was 3,852. According to FSN reports, figures for 2018 surpass that number already.
The work undertaken by the FSN goes beyond the provision of basic food and clothing. FSN provides counselling, mediation, advocacy and emergency temporary shelter for domestic violence abuse victims, along with assisting persons in acquiring jobs.
“Our clients come from Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, as well as Tortola. Apart from the support with food and shelter, we tend to be the first stop for people caught in domestic abuse situations. We spend the majority of our time trying to help people put their lives back together,” the FSN Director said.
She said that FSN needs all the help it can get in order to be able to help as many persons in the community as possible.
“Some of the ways we can go about this is by having volunteers and people who can make one-off donations or pledge long term support. Areas in which we could use long term support can be as simple as providing office supplies, partial payment towards monthly overheads such as electricity, water, and rent. Any donation is welcome and appreciated,” she noted.
Beneficiaries and donors can collect or drop off items at the FSN’s current location in the O’Neal Building (below Harney’s) on Main Street from 9:00am – 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The FSN can be contacted on (284) 499-0986/0999 or (284) 542-2085.
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