PFB sustaining decline in donations

Operating on nearly half the budget required to keep its programme running annually, Prison Fellowship Barbados continues to meet the needs of the children of inmates.

Executive Director of the non-profit organisation Thomas Watts, told The Barbados Advocate that over the past five years, PFB has seen a reduction in donations from corporate Barbados and individuals to assist in its programmes, especially at Christmas time.

He said the companies are explaining that they have to cut back due to the unfavourable economic climate, while still making a smaller contribution.

Watts who has been volunteering his time to assist with managing the organisation over the past 30 years, revealed that it takes at least $100 000 annually to manage the organisation, but now operates on nearly half that amount.

“Finance is the major challenge for our programme because if you don’t have funds you can’t do the things that you want to do. Corporate Barbados is the one who has prison fellowship standing on a solid rock – so thank God for them! They support the programme because what we are doing – a lot of organisations are not doing it.

“Some send sometimes $500, some send maybe $1 000, some send maybe a little more. There are some people that write a letter to us and say what we used to give you, we cannot give you anymore, but we will give you so that you can carry on the programme because you are doing good work. They also say they cannot do what we are doing,” Watts said.

The Executive Director was speaking at the Prison Fellowship International Caribbean Regional Forum, at the Church of God of Prophecy, Water Street, Christ Church.

He declared that despite the lack of adequate funding, PFB assist almost 500 families annually with food, clothing, financial and other assistance.

“God is good. We are not stopping it. We send the children to school and help them right through the year. We find food for them and school clothes. When Christmas comes we make them happy because their fathers are in prison. The most important thing is that you invite people to come and see what you are doing. I remember last Christmas gone, somebody who gives gifts every year happened to drop the gift at the centre and when they reached and saw what we were doing, they wrote a cheque for $900 and something dollars because they see and the Bible said seeing is believing,” he said.

Watts also spoke highly of an aspect of the programme where children are taken to the prison to meet their fathers.

“It makes me feel like I am doing something. Many of the children have never seen their father for many years and they hold on to their fathers and tears come out of everybody’s eyes. I don’t get a salary. I work freely… I got a job in California to run this organisation but I turned it down to come here to work for nothing. God will give you the best. You must be faithful in whatever you are doing and God will do the rest,” he declared. (AH)