Bahamas Feeding Network Receives 20,000 lbs of holiday food from Royal Caribbean International
12/22/2022
Bahamas Feeding Network Receives 20,000 lbs of holiday food from Royal Caribbean International, 40-ft container packed with fresh hams and chicken arrives in Fox Hill
Thousands of Bahamians will have more on their holiday table this year,
thanks to a generous donation from Royal Caribbean International.
The cruise line donated 20,000 lbs of fresh bone-in hams and chicken to Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) today.
“When
the news came that Royal Caribbean International was once again going
to make the holidays brighter for those who face a shortage of food or
outright hunger, we were overjoyed,” said Archdeacon James Palacious,
BFN Executive Director.
A 40-foot refrigerated container packed
to the ceiling with holiday meats arrived for the Bahamas Feeding
Network, whose management, faced with space challenges for such a large
supply, thanked Super Value Food Stores for allowing the container to be
kept at one of its facilities with food transported daily to Bahamas
Feeding Network’s headquarters on Fox Hill Road where BFN team members
and volunteers distributed the food through a network of nearly 100
churches, reaching thousands of congregants.
Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming was on hand for a special distribution today.
It
was the third time Royal Caribbean International came through with
massive donations of food for the holidays, but the first time since a
cruise line executive has taken a seat on the board of the
non-governmental organization. Royal Caribbean Group Vice President of
Government Relations, Americas, Russell Benford was appointed to the
board in November.
The cruise line with a 50+-year history of sailing to The Bahamas made its first donation of $25,000 to the network in 2018 and later upped its contribution of food valued at nearly $200,000. In two subsequent years, its contributions doubled to $400,000, making Royal Caribbean the Bahamas Feeding Network’s largest corporate contributor.
Benford said the organizations have been working together for five years now.
“This is the third year we provided an extra gift during the time of the holidays of food to the network,” he said.
“I think, you know, for us as our relationship has grown over time, you know, we’ve gotten to know this organization.”
BFN has called Royal Caribbean “a true and faithful friend in the fight against hunger,” applauding the company, in particular, for living up to its commitment for support even when ships were forbidden to sail and there was no revenue for the corporation.
“As they’ve done in the past, again this year, they’re making a significant contribution here at Christmas time to assist in the feeding of many Bahamians who ordinarily would not have had a proper meal this time of the year,” said BFN Chairman Felix Stubbs.
“Some of you may be aware we’ve been in existence now for 13 years. We’ve been feeding individuals for more, supporting a network of feeding programms so that as many deserving Bahamians are fed a proper meal.”
The connection between Royal Caribbean and BFN has helped the charity in other ways as well as direct donations – the cruise line treated more than 100 people – BFN volunteers, staff and families -- for a week-long cruise, supported BFN through other donations including free cruises for charity prizes and hosted numerous Fox Hill community events.
Launched with a handful of churches and a vision of becoming a network through which others could receive the support they needed, BFN has provided more than two million meals in the nine years since its founding in 2013. It currently provides food parcels for 100,000 meals monthly.
