Island Gems members Alita Singh, Marieke van Zandhoff and Hanisha Alwani visited the Bishop Ellis Foundation office for a symbolic presentation of food items to Bishop of Willemstad Luigi Secco, foundation President Father Adam Oleszczuk, and long-time volunteer Janette Wattley.
~ Calls for adding of feminine hygiene products ~
PHILIPSBURG--Bishop Ellis Foundation for the Poor and Needy recently received a donation of non-perishable food items from Island Gems Charity Foundation.
The Bishop Ellis group has been providing a monthly food box of basic non-perishable food items that make it possible for several meals to be created. The food boxes help feed some 250 men, women and children.
Island Gems provided Bishop Ellis Foundation with a voucher to purchase the food items needed from a supermarket. A voucher was given because Island Gems does not give cash to any of its sponsored organisations.
President of the all-women Island Gems Alita Singh asked the foundation to consider adding feminine hygiene products, especially sanitary pads, as a staple in the boxes.
“While food is always the top necessity, taking care of women’s health and well-being is also vital for the betterment of the family,” Singh said. “Feminine products tend to also be costly and receiving this item will aid an already struggling woman to tick off another necessity from the list for herself and her daughters. The majority of people on the Bishop Ellis list are women and girls.”
The suggestion was welcomed by Bishop Ellis Foundation President Father Adam Oleszczuk and Vice President Rajesh Chintaman.
The work of both Bishop Ellis Foundation and Island Gems received praise from Bishop of Willemstad Luigi Secco. The Bishop was on a pastoral visit to St. Maarten and was present for the Island Gems presentation at the Bishop Ellis Foundation office in the Catholic Rectory on Back Street.
