PHILIPSBURG:--- The COVID-19 Relief Group will hold its second Fundraising Drive on Saturday, July 31st, and Sunday, August 1st. On both days, the Group will be stationed at the Carrefour Market in Cul-de-Sac, from 10 am until the closing of the supermarket. Persons, families, companies, businesses are encouraged to stop by and give their donations in cash or checks.
With the funds, raised during its first Fundraising Drive, the COVID-19 Relief Fund was able to assist a total of 66 persons with the payment of small bills. The assistance went towards the payment of rent, medical or GEBE bills, and the purchase of food. Forty-two persons received a check to buy food at several of our supermarkets. The funds also helped 10 persons to pay their rent; 13 persons received help with their GEBE bill and 1 person received help with a medical bill. “I am pleased that we have been able to meet the needs of so many persons with the funds that we raised from the general public and from several companies on the island”, says Mr. Rollocks, the initiator of the Fundraising Group.
We all know that there are people in our community who are still suffering from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are out of jobs, yet they still have bills to pay, mouths to feed but they do not know where the money will come from. The COVID-19 Relief Group wants to continue to assist these persons with their acute financial needs. For this reason, the Group is holding its second fundraising activity to raise additional funds to assist those persons in need.
During the first Fundraising Drive, the Group was able to raise a total of NAf. 12.415,80, dollars included. With the help of Father Adam of the Sint Maarten Christian Council, Pastor Cuvalay of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Apostle Wilson of the Sint Maarten United Ministerial Foundation the Group was able to help 66 persons in our community. But the funds have now all been used up. “We hope we can raise more money than we did last time because the need in our community is great and we would like to do something about it”, said the Group’s coordinator, Pastor Wycliffe Smith.
The Group will be at the Carrefour Market this weekend and is inviting everybody to pass by and give a donation. No donation is too small or too large. Finally, the Group would like to remind the general public of the words uttered by Jesus Christ: “In as much as you have done this to the least of these my brothers (and sisters), you have done it unto me”.
