The Tribune

LAUREN Higgs’ years of self sacrifice and community service were officially recognised at the 53rd Annual Heart Ball as she was named the 49th recipient of the Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Award.

Chairman of the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation R E Barnes presented the award to Mrs Higgs, noting that it is always handed out to someone who has given of themselves to help their fellow men and women.

The foundation started the Golden Heart Award as a way to recognise members of the community who go above and beyond to help others.

The nominations for the award are made by members of the public to recognise the role and contributions that the winner has made in serving the community.

Mr Barnes noted that a great many people nominated Mrs Higgs. “She clearly has touched a large number of people,” he said.

Mrs Higgs thanked Mr Barnes and the Heart Foundation for the recognition. She also gave special thanks to the Spanish Wells Methodist Church and the Ladies Committee who assist with the running of the church’s soup kitchen.

Mrs Higgs was born in Nassau, and while she has lived on several of the Family Islands, Nassau is once again her home. She is the wife of Rev William R Higgs, of Trinity Methodist Church. They have two children, Rory Higgs and Kara Higgs-Smith, and one grandchild.

Mrs Higgs and her three sisters all learned from childhood that it was important to help others. For a while she taught pre-school and worked in the public sector in business. She and her husband served the church in Jamaica for a couple of years before returning to the Bahamas and living in Spanish Wells and Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

Mrs Higgs and her husband lived in Spanish Wells for eight years and there they worked to build a new sanctuary and minister to those on the island. She spoke of caring for those in need, the sick and the elderly, and she practiced what she preached.

Eighteen years ago the couple returned to Nassau. This was to mark a significant change in Mrs Higgs’ life as she looked around Nassau and saw so many people in need. The church started a fledgling outreach ministry and she began to organise a soup kitchen to help the hungry she saw on the streets every day.

Every nominating letter spoke of Mrs Higgs’ organising skills and her determination that inspired those around her to contribute to helping those whose lives were not progressing as they might have hoped.

One of her supporters noted, “To fully understand Mrs Higgs’ inner drive is to understand her capacity and ability in dealing with all matters of preparing food, serving food, feeding people, raising funds and gathering sponsors. All of this she does with style, determination and great zeal.”

From that commitment to help the poor has risen an effort that feeds thousands of people every year. Not only do Mrs Higgs and her supporters help to feed the poor, but they also help children heading back to school every August. They make sure the children of those in need have what they need for the start of the new school year.

The Cancer Society has also felt the touch of Mrs Higgs and her group. In December, they provided a warm meal for those from the Family Islands in town for radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Under Mrs Higgs’ leadership, Trinity Methodist also hosts a Christmas party for those in need. Children and adults receive gifts as well as grocery and toiletry bags. The outreach ministry under the guidance of Mrs Higgs gets the entire church involved with helping those less fortunate.

“Sometimes it just takes that one special person to help muster people to act. Mrs Lauren Higgs is one of those special people who inspires people to do their best for others,” Mr Barnes noted in presenting the Golden Heart Award.