The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THROUGHOUT the entire year Hands For Hunger hosted initiatives in an effort to wage war and bring an end to hunger in Bahamas. And this holiday season saw the staging of some extra special events.

Currently stationed in the Mall At Marathon are H4H volunteers who have been operating a gift wrapping booth since the festive season started.

This is the third consecutive year the group has operated a gift wrapping booth in the mall’s centre court.  

The gift wrapping service will be available during seasonal mall hours until Christmas Eve. The organisation is asking the public to help them raise funds by giving a small donation to have the Christmas gifts wrapped at the booth.

According to the organisation, the two-and-half-week initiative boasts nearly 250 four-hour volunteer opportunities; filled mainly by students and corporate groups who have all generously donated their time.

“The Hands For Hunger team and myself are humbled by the outpouring of support from volunteers this season,” said Zeleka Knowles, H4H executive director.

“Our spirited volunteers are eager to lend a helping hand and continue to go above and beyond to ensure the success of this fundraising initiative.”

Also, in support of H4H, the 2014/2015 Bahamas Galaxy Pageant crown winners, Miss Bahamas Rhonda Pinder, Miss Teen Bahamas Kayla Bright and Junior Miss Bahamas Daneisha Mortimer, volunteered over the weekend to spread holiday cheer, share the mission of H4H with mall shoppers, wrap gifts and encourage donations.

For a second year, RBC Royal Bank is sponsoring the H4H gift wrapping booth, ensuring that all proceeds benefit the organisation’s programmes. Last year, the holiday fundraising initiative helped raise over $10,000 in support of the mission and vision of reducing food waste and ending hunger in the Bahamas.

“RBC has long supported initiatives aimed at giving back directly to the people most in need in our community,” said Nathaniel Beneby Jr, managing director, RBC Royal Bank, Bahamas, Cayman and Turks and Caicos Islands. “This initiative is one that is especially important as many families look to Hands For Hunger to enable them to make ends meet.”

H4H has been known to launch unique initiatives in support of a cause that affects hundreds of Bahamians on a daily basis.

Employees of RBC will also be volunteering their time and gift wrapping talents to H4H’s holiday fundraising effort. Community members who are interested in volunteering to wrap gifts should contact H4H by calling 327-1660 or e-mailing volunteer@handsforhunger.org.