Founder of the Fishers Of Men Charity, Sharon Bellamy-Thompson speaking to the media.
Reward for service
The hard work and dedication put in by one of Barbados’ own in assisting less fortunate members of society will be formally recognised this week.
On Friday, Founder of the Fishers Of Men Charity, Sharon Bellamy-Thompson, will be officially presented with the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada’s 2021 Citizen of the Year Award for Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District. This will occur during the Kiwanis clubs’ charter ceremony.
She was selected for this prestigious honour by Kiwanis International’s Governor of Eastern Canada and the Caribbean (EC&C) District, Dr. Delores Lewis.
On Monday Dr. Lewis, who was accompanied by visiting Kiwanis International President, Arthur “Art” Riley, his wife, Vickie Riley and the Lieutenant Governor of Division 27 of the EC&C District, Cynthia Blackman, joined Bellamy-Thompson and members of Kiwanis Club of Barbados Benevolence to distribute breakfast to persons in Jubilee Gardens.
Speaking to the media at this city location, Dr. Lewis said after hearing about Bellamy-Thompson and her work in daily preparing and providing meals for the homeless and vulnerable members of society, she was pleased to select her for such an award.
“We did a virtual presentation at our [May] convention because we could not have a face-to-face convention and I am so happy that coinciding with the visit of the International President that we will be able to present her with the Citizen of the Year Award for Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District.”
She added, “I was very much impressed with what she was doing especially since she started out doing all of this on her own. I understand that she wakes up at two o’clock in the morning, she prepares the food and she comes down here and this is done seven days a week. I was more impressed at that kind of service. This is what we try to emphasise in Kiwanis, service to others and service to those persons who are less fortunate than we are. She is doing an exceptional job of providing service for persons in Barbados and I thought that should be recognised.”
Bellamy-Thompson, who has conducted charity work for over 30 years, told the media she is both “excited and overwhelmed” to be recognised as it was not something she was looking for.