The Tribune

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is providing Grand Bahama residents with charging stations for their electronic devices, and launched a month-long donation campaign for Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

The communications provider has also joined forces with civic group, Our Grand Bahama (OGB); Facebook charity group, HeadKnowles; and the Red Cross to bring much relief to residents in need.

"The partnership between BTC and these civic organisations is something that materialised overnight" said Eldri Ferguson-Mackey, BTC's customer experience vice-president for Nassau and the Family Islands.

"It was a very natural partnership for us. We not only service the communities affected by Irma, but our team members live in these communities, which made it even more important for us to get involved on the ground level."

BTC team members and volunteers from OGB began manning the company's Pioneers Way and Pyfrom Manor locations from noon yesterday, accepting donations of clothing, non-perishable food items, toiletries and other relief supplies.

While immediate recovery efforts will focus on assisting Grand Bahama residents displaced by tornadoes, the project has since expanded to include communities such as Bimini and the south-eastern Bahamas as well.

"BTC covers every island, rock and cay in the Bahamas, and so it was extremely heart-warming to see our country managers and leads in other Family Islands step up to become a part of this initiative and volunteer to use their locations as assistance hubs as well," said Ms Ferguson-Mackey.

"While this is obviously a time of distress for many Bahamians, it is also an opportunity for us to demonstrate our spirit of brotherly love and togetherness as we work to rebuild and restore post Hurricane Irma."