IN a joint effort, the Rotary  Club of New Amsterdam and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, have undertaken to distribute  1000 food hampers to vulnerable citizens in Berbice, that  are affected financially by the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus.

At a ceremony at the Greenidge Air Cooling showroom at Lot 13 Strand, New Amsterdam, President of the Rotary Club Ms Charlyn Artiga, noted that the coronavirus  has prevented in-person work by the service organisation.

However, with the support of the church, an opportunity presented itself to achieve one humanitarium project , which is the distribution of hampers to persons who have been severely financially affected.

Hampers will be distributed from West Coast Berbice to Moleson Creek along the Corentyne coast.
Chairperson and Director of Public Affairs Ms Sanjay Y. Pooran, explained that the church’s approach is to develop a balanced spread of benefits for families and communities that are affected by the pandemic.

Along with the distribution of food hampers, the religious organisation had also conducted the water sanitisation project in several schools across the region . The project allowed over 5000 students to benefit from pure, drinkable water.

That aside, the church had provided the Civil Defence Commission with $20M to support vulnerable  families and communities and  assisted the government during the 2005 flood, In addition, frontline workers attached  to the health sector were issued with personal protective equipment.

Meanwhile, among those attending the ceremony were Mr Orin Moses, President of the Berbice Guyana District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;  Past President of Rotary New Amsterdam Mr Noland France and members of the Rotary fraternity.