Flow helps Cancer Society, HIV/AIDS Food Bank and Prison Fellowship

The gift of giving will continue to flow for hundreds of Barbadian families who rely on the Barbados Cancer Society, the Prison Fellowship and the HIV/AIDS Food Bank for assistance.

The three organisations were recently presented with $15 000 worth of Massy Store vouchers from leading telecommunications provider Flow as part of the company’s recent Christmas campaign.

Dr. Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, President of the Barbados Cancer Society and Stacia Whittaker, community nutrition officer in the Ministry of Health and manager of the HIV/AIDS Food Bank, along with Joycelyn Lawson of the Prison Fellowship, received the donations from Marilyn Sealy, Director of Communication and Stakeholder Management, Flow.

“Flow is committed to empowering and improving our community, especially those less fortunate than ourselves, so instead of the classic grocery hamper, we thought it more prudent to place the purchasing power in the hands of the people who were most in need,” said Sealy.

“It may be a small gesture but we hope to make a tangible and immediate impact on the lives of at least some Barbadians affected with cancer or HIV/AIDS and those children and family members impacted by the incarceration of their parents or loved ones.”

All agency representatives praised Flow for the thoughtful use of vouchers rather than actual items or foodstuff.

Dr. Cooke-Johnson also said Flow was the only corporate partner of the Barbados Cancer Society to donate such versatile vouchers in significant denominations.

“The vouchers are a great idea because while a lot of people get a little extra at Christmas, the crunch really hits hard in the month of January, so when these vouchers go out it is going to be a God-send for our clients. They are going to be delighted at a time when they are really quite down and wondering where the next dollar is coming from,” she said.

In thanking Flow, Whittaker said the donations will help offset any shortfalls at the HIV/AIDS Food Bank.

“The vouchers are a fantastic idea because we can purchase other necessities like disposable diapers and household items which we don’t usually ask for, since we try to focus more on food. We also don’t usually get a lot of perishable items like meat and vegetables but now persons will be able to purchase these for themselves. This is the third year that Flow has donated these vouchers and it’s the perfect supplement for the food bank and our clients,” she said.