Scotiabank, Cost U Less, Schooner Bay Market and residents have teamed up to put food on the Thanksgiving dinner tables of the needy on St. Croix.
On Friday, Aisha Webster, program assistant at Women’s Coalition, and Juanita Lawson-Haith, director of public relations for Lutheran Social Services, accepted food donations from the second annual “Share the JOY of Thanksgiving” charity food drive sponsored by Scotiabank.
A table was set up at Cost U Less in Sion Farm brimming with red Scotiabank gift bags full of Thanksgiving goodies. The bags were pre-packed with Stove Top stuffing mix, cans of Ocean Spray cranberries, Kraft macaroni and cheese, canned corn, rice, potatoes and sparkling apple cider. Generous customers at the stores gave $20 towards filling the bags, and Scotiabank donated turkeys.
Webster said the food will go to clients in the coalition’s transitional housing and others living in the community who seek their services.
“We are very grateful to those who are giving to people who are less fortunate,” Webster said. She added volunteers will distribute the food Wednesday in time for holiday meal preparations.
Lawson-Haith said Lutheran Social Services was proud to be able to help families in need. “This was a great project providing much-needed, nutritious food to our elderly and disabled clients.”
Helena Emmanuel, district relationship officer at Scotiabank, said it is a time of year when some people won’t have a holiday meal and Scotiabank wanted to share and provide a Thanksgiving meal for them. “The way the economy is, and unemployment, some are in the situation where they don’t have the ability to provide for their family.”
Mekus Samuel, assistant manager at Cost U Less, said store employees take pride in partnering with businesses such as Scotiabank to help people in the community.
As of Friday, Cost U Less had 25 bags and Schooner Bay had three bags to give out. The stores will continue to collect donations through the close of business on Monday.
