The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

RANFURLY Home Administrator L Alexander Roberts said he strongly believes “the Bahamian public would never allow the day to come” when the home would have to close its doors due to financial problems.

Mr Roberts said that because of the home’s historic nature, both the public and private sector would do all it could do to save it “if needs be”.

Attempting to clarify earlier reports about the home’s financial woes, Mr Roberts said that on a year-to-year basis during the back to school period, officials at the Ranfurly Home struggle to secure the necessary funding needed to “properly prepare” its wards for their return to the classroom.

“In the summer, we have a cash flow issue due to the fact that we have to prepare the kids to return to school – they need books, uniforms and other supplies. Last year there was an outpouring of concern by the public as we worked to get that done,” he said.

He said officials do the best they can with the government’s annual subsidy. However, said Mr Roberts, that subsidy covers only ten per cent of the home’s annual expenses.

“For the remaining 90 per cent, we have to fundraise or beg and we do that unashamedly because we are working with the future of the country. These children, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in situations that are horrible and when Social Services bring the children here, we are duty bound to accept them and provide the best possible environment for them to blossom and grow.

“We depend greatly on donations from public and private entities,” he said.

Yesterday, Dawn Bethel, wife of the Bahamas High Commissioner to London Eldred Bethel, presented three cheques to the home of $1000, £100 and £25 respectively.

Mrs Bethel said she raised the funds by asking friends and family planning to get her gifts for her birthday this past March to donate instead to the Ranfurly Home.

“My interest is children and I think if we have children in environments such as this – we want them to feel as comfortable as possible and if each of us as Bahamians could give even a little, that little grows bigger,” she said.

She indicated that as a child, her parents often allowed children from the Ranfurly Home to spend time at their home. She said that process gave her an opportunity to learn the importance of sharing and helping.

“They are doing a wonderful job here, the kids are in an environment that is comfortable, that is friendly; that is home. We wish we could do more and we have all the hope that we can do more in the future,” she added.

The Ranfurly Home opened in 1956 to offer shelter and a new life for those who had been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned. Today, there are 23 residents between the ages of six and 17 sent to the home by the Department of Social Services.

To make a donation, contact the home at 393-3115 or 557-3557.