Although Human Services, the police and many other organizations are doing their best to reach out to all storm victims, they can only do so much and that is why more help is needed. It is in that spirit that BTL donated $50,000 to the Belize Red Cross and Hand in Hand Ministries. Today at a short handing over ceremony, Chairman of the BTL Executive Committee Anwar Barrow explained why this donation was important. The recipients also discussed how crucial this contribution will be to their hurricane response programs.
Anwar Barrow, Chair., BTL Executive Committee
"Today BTL is handing over $100,000; $50,000 is going to the Red Cross Organization which they're going to use for direct hurricane relief efforts to people who have suffered tremendous losses. A lot of the resources are going to go directly through prepaid cards to victims so that they can use that cash to buy supplies that they need. We are also contributing another $50,000 to Hand In Hand Ministries for the rebuilding of homes and that is going to start in September. We're going to be rebuilding homes for needy families and BTL
employees are also going to be a part of that program in actually constructing the homes."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So just further reiterate the importance of this handing over and the connection you have with these organizations."
Anwar Barrow, Chair. BTL Executive Committee
"Well everyone uses the services of BTL, or most people at least, and so we feel that when there's a natural disaster, we as a good corporate citizen have an important role to play. This is one of the ways in which we fulfil that responsibility and that is by giving back to the community and helping in such times."
Lily Bowman, Dir. Gen., Belize Red Cross
"The money is going directly to the beneficiaries and what we're going to be putting it into is to strengthen out our already implemented CTP which is a Cash Transfer Program. What this program does is first of all give people their dignity so that they can purchase what they really need on their own. The program is done through a credit card with a certain limit on it and it's a onetime withdrawal. They can do that withdrawal at the banks here in Belize, the accounts are held internationally so it's just a onetime withdrawal but at least it can give the people that opportunity and that dignity to buy their own stuff. We do still apply our process in carrying out assessments. our assessment is a blanket assessment through the entire affected area from which then we select, using the humanitarian criteria, the basic needs, we select those that are most in need and those are the persons who will qualify for the program."
Bernard Panton, Dir., Hand in Hand Ministries
"Hand In Hand works right throughout the year to work with the neediest and especially during his hurricane, those are the people who will surface. We are a nonprofit organization and we depend on other entities to come and assist. This partnership will be very helpful in allowing us to build more houses for more people who are needy."
Red Cross Director General Lily Bowman told us that with BTL's donation, 100 more families will benefit from their credit card program.
