The residents and staff at Harrison Point were treated to a ‘home cooked’ barbeque meal on Saturday.
The Rotary Club of Barbados West (RCOBW) and Goddard Enterprises Ltd (GEL) joined forces to bring a more relaxed Saturday meal to those at the government-run medical facility in St Lucy.
The initiative was the brainchild of Joe Steinbok, who was the original project manager for the site when it had to be converted to an isolation facility, and the idea was to bring some cheer by giving the residents and staff something that they would not normally receive there.
“I figure that some patients might miss their home-cooked food, so I decided to ask my Rotary Club if they would be interested in doing a project that would give residents something that they don’t get every day” explained Steinbok.
He added: “I called the president of the club and he did a quick round-robin with the directors and in half an hour it was confirmed that the club was onboard. I then spoke to Dr Forde to see if it was possible and we were ready.”
Steinbok then explained that he contacted Goddard Enterprises and asked for some of the burgers and hot dogs that they wanted but the company generously offered all that was required.
“When we heard about this initiative, we thought it a great idea and we were pleased that we were able to help,” stated Anthony Ali, CEO and managing director of GEL.
“We are all fighting this COVID-19 fight together, so those who have contracted the virus, and those taking care of them need our support,” he added.
The RCOBW collected over 700 hamburger buns and hot dog rolls from subsidiary Purity Bakeries and a variety of hamburgers, fish burgers, veggie burgers and chicken hotdogs from HIPAC Ltd, as well as individually packaged mini condiments from
Hanschell Inniss Ltd.
On Saturday, about 20 Rotarians, along with some family members, carrying five large grills and numerous coolers, headed to St. Lucy and set up preparation tents in a protected area just outside the isolation facility as no-one could enter the secure isolation area.
Members of the housekeeping team then came out with a golf cart and took the packaged lunches, which also included a salad, to the residents for distribution.
President of the RCOBW, Trevor Williams, explained that after working with 108 families during the Christmas period, the feeding of the residents was an extension of bringing cheer to another special family and the residents and staff at Harrison Point were a “special family who are there through no wish of their own.”
“Fundraising during 2020 was particularly challenging because of COVID-19 and so the contribution from GEL has been most welcome and much appreciated.
“It is timely and demonstrated the company’s civic mindedness and its social responsibility and we are most grateful,”
stated Williams.
The RCOBW is also involved in numerous community projects including the testing and acquisition of hearing aids for children at Eagle Hall Primary School, the donation of tablets to Good Shepherd Primary and Vauxhall Primary Schools as well as laptops and scholarships to students at the UWI. (PR)