03/28/2018

From Kelly’s House & Home to Help Feed the Hungry -- Kelly’s House & Home President Nancy Kelly cements her support of the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) with a donation of $10,000 to Sean Moree, BFN director. The Feeding Network provides more than 2,800 hot meals every week in addition to food vouchers to help in the fight against hunger that affects one in every eight people in The Bahamas.  The presentation took place during Kelly’s Employee Awards Banquet recently held at British Colonial Hilton when Mrs. Kelly said she hoped other corporate citizens and individuals would follow with support for the cause. 

The ballroom was filled with laughter and music. Accolades, gifts and plaques were showered on long-serving employees of Kelly’s House & Home whose years of hard work helped the once small hardware store grow into the retail success story of The Bahamas. While celebrations continued at the event that brought together several hundred Kelly’s staff members at the British Colonia Hilton, one moment touched the hearts of everyone present. 

It was a major donation by Kelly’s President Nancy B. Kelly to the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN), a cheque for $10,000 to aid in the fight against hunger.

“From the first time that I saw the video of the Bahamas Feeding Network’s work, I was deeply moved and so impressed by the dedication and great spirit of the volunteers who help so many of our fellow Bahamians in need of food,” said Mrs. Kelly. “The Network’s team of volunteers prep, cook and plate some 2,000 hot meals every Sunday and another 800 on Thursdays. They work out of a small kitchen and makeshift space in a modest bright yellow house on Fox Hill Road near the Police Station that was donated by Foxhillian Leslie Davis who left the home and other assets in a trust managed by two of his children, Shayne Davis and Dianne Bingham, for this cause. The teamwork and the spirit that goes into serving and delivering all that food to thousands of hungry people week after week showed what human kindness and compassion could do to ease a national burden. Kelly’s is proud and honoured to assist the Bahamas Feeding Network and we hope more corporate and private entities will join us in donating to this charity.”

According to government statistics, up to one in every eight people living in The Bahamas goes to bed hungry with the poverty level set at $11.24 a day. Organizers and supporters of the Feeding Network say one of their most important missions is to ensure that the elderly and children do not go hungry. 

“Hunger is never a child’s fault,” said Philip Smith, BFN Executive Director. “When a child goes to school hungry, how can we expect him or her to pay attention or to do their very best when their belly hurts and all they can think about is how they will get something, anything, to eat?” 

The Feeding Network was one of several donations made by Kelly’s House & Home during its annual awards ceremony and banquet.  

On hand to accept the Bahamas Feeding Network’s donation and provide an insider’s view of how the Network functions was BFN Director Sean Moree. 

“On behalf of the board of directors, volunteers and beneficiaries of the Network, I am elated  that Kelly’s has identified the Bahamas Feeding Network as a recipient of this very generous gift, “ said Moree. “We are always humbled and greatly indebted to the many individuals and organizations that step up and literally put their money where their mouth is to allow us to provide food for the mouths of too many among us with who have too little or nothing to eat.” 

The Network partners with more than 120 churches, soup kitchens and feeding centres providing more than 2,800 hot meals weekly along with distributing nearly 400 bags of groceries. Many of the churches and soup kitchens collect the plated servings from Mosseff House where meals are prepared. Donations have allowed the Feeding Network to acquire two vans to assist in food deliveries throughout New Providence and the Network supplies food vouchers to partners in several Family Islands. Founded in 2013 as the brainchild of H.E. Frank Crothers, Ambassador from Malta and the Vatican to The Bahamas, the Bahamas Feeding Network directors are among the leading civic and businesspersons in The Bahamas including Chairman Felix Stubbs. The non-profit organization has distributed more than $450,000 in food vouchers.