The Tribune

RBC has announced that it will sponsor the Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer Programme.

This arm of the Salvation Army supports the ongoing work of the organisation while directly helping needy children and senior citizens at Christmas.

RBC’s sponsorship will help the Army defray costs of the Annual Christmas Community and Seniors Luncheon and the Children’s Party.

Since 1984 the Salvation Army has hosted an annual seniors lunch at Christmas.

The luncheon brightens the season for more than 600 senior citizens, providing them with fellowship and food.

In addition, each attending senior receives a food parcel with enough dry goods to feed a family of four over the holidays.

Many of the seniors who attend often have little money for a Christmas celebration. To participate, seniors must sign up at the Salvation Army Centre.

The Salvation Army hosts two annual children’s parties – at the Salvation Army Grants Town Corps (church) and the Rotary Party at McDonalds.

This year, the Salvation Army Nassau Citadel will add to that number by hosting the first annual Christmas party for the needy children in Mackey Street that are unable to attend at Grants Town or McDonalds.

These events, which are normally held one week before Christmas, bring the joys of the season to children who would otherwise have no festivities.

Each child is given a Christmas present, and in most instances the party becomes just like Christmas Day, as the children hasten to open their gifts.

“The Salvation Army relies on the generosity of our corporate partners to sustain its Christmas Cheer Programme,” said Marsha L Kanady-Deveaux, community relations and development associate with the Salvation Army

“Each year the costs of the Christmas Cheer Programme increases and the funding available to sustain the programme decreases.

“While we are prepared to scale back, cancelling the programme is not an option.

“RBC has been a generous corporate partner over the past few years. RBC’s funding and manpower has enabled the Salvation Army to do more than ever before.

“On behalf of the individuals that the Salvation Army strives to serve throughout the Bahamas, I thank RBC for their support.”

Each year the Salvation Army provides more than 50,000 meals and 7,500 food parcels to needy individuals and families in the Bahamas.

The annual Red Kettle campaign is a signature part of its Christmas Cheer Programme.

Red Kettle contributions from generous supporters and friends help ensure that the Salvation Army is able to serve the needs of the disadvantaged in the community during Christmas and through the coming New Year.