Jacqui McDermott, Immediate Past Chief Barker with Variety – The Children’s Charity, signing up for a chance to win the daycation on offer. She was assisted by Group Training and Culture Development Officer with Sea Breeze Beach House, Rashida Beckles.
The number of individuals requesting assistance from Variety – The Children’s Charity has increased.
This was revealed by Immediate-Past Chief Barker, Jacqui McDermott, who said 2020 has been one of the “toughest” years for the Charity. She also said they were unable to stage many of their major fundraising events due to COVID-19.
“In these times it is really tough. We are getting more calls but we are having to do more with less because we have not been able to do a couple of our bigger fundraisers. So the “Row for Charity”, which would have been one of our biggest events we weren’t able to do.”
She was speaking to The Barbados Advocate at the Charity’s “Christmas Fair for Charity” and “Clear Out for Charity” events which were held simultaneously last Saturday inside and on the grounds of Harbour Lights.
McDermott said she was pleased with the response of vendors and the public to the occasion. She also said the money raised on the day will be used by the Charity for its upcoming initiative.
“Overall, the response from vendors was excellent, so we thank everybody for being involved and for coming to support us. The numbers that we had today [Saturday] were good and steady and a great way for us to be able to keep it a safe environment.”
She added, “we wanted to make sure that we could raise funds in a safe way for our “Pack the Pantry” programme, which is where we will be giving food packages to families at Christmas and throughout the year. I think it is important to us at Variety that we support our families throughout the year and that it is not just at certain times. I think that is what the families are grateful for.”