And while some will get their grocery bags tomorrow, thirty Crooked Tree residents received food packages courtesy of the Coast Guard on Saturday.
The officers working in that area while the village's causeway remains flooded, decided to team up and give back to the community.
Courtney Menzies traveled north with the Coast Guard Officers and has this report.
It's become an everyday routine for the Crooked Tree residents to be ferried by the Coast Guard Officers in and out of their village.
That's because for about two months now, the village's causeway has been swallowed by the surrounding lagoon, and residents can no longer drive out.
For the Coast Guard, it's a duty - but it's more than that - it's a community service - a humanitarian gesture to grateful villagers.
And while it is not easy being locked off from the rest of the country by flooding, like this baby, the residents are made to feel safe and comfortable on the daily boat rides.
And since the officers have gotten a firsthand look at the villagers' plight, they took it upon themselves to spread some much needed Christmas Cheer in the form of food packages and medical assistance.
Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis, Acting Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"Last week when we had our staff meeting, the staff thought it would be a good gesture, and to spread some Coast Guard Christmas Cheer to the village of Crooked Tree by providing some care packages and so we quickly began to mobilize, began to coordinate, and we've received tremendous assistance as it relates to this initiative.We really wanted to give back to the community of Crooked Tree."
"We have the care packages that have some food items that the families can utilize. And we also have a small medic tent that's behind me where we'll be able to check people's blood pressure, check their glucose, we can check their eyes and kinda give them some guidance as it relates to if they need to go see a specialist, they'll be able to check their weight, their temperature, so it basic medical care but it's all a part of giving back to the community of Crooked Tree."
The chairman, Godfrey Smith Jr, expressed his thanks to the Coast Guard and the area representative - for these timely Christmas provisions.
He told us how he chose the families who would receive the food packages.
Godfrey Smith Jr., Chairman, Crooked Tree
"I basically went to a list, because we have a list of people who have been getting over and over and I wanted to reach out to people who hadn't got anything as yet."
"I would say about half the village have lost their livelihood, they done have any job, they can't fee their kids, clothing, their house are leaking, it's a sad situation here in Crooked Tree."
"Any way that I can assist I will, I'm hoping also that other agencies, NGO's, businesses would reach out and see how best we can help these people. Christmas is coming along and they really need some help."
A sad situation indeed especially since the water will not recede any time soon. But the area rep says he has already begun looking into ways to ensure that the situation will not be repeated in the future - at least, not to this magnitude.
Hon. Marconi Leal, Area Representative, Belize Rural North
"It's been receding very very slow but as you can see, and you'll be able to see more today, that Crooked Tree have been affected close to like two months but the water is really really going down very very slow so I believe they'll be feeling the effect of this flood until maybe mid february."
"Before today we've been assisting with food, water and other stuff. NEMO have played a big role in assisting the people who have been affected."
"I have spoken with the CEO for the Ministry of Works just this week and he has assured me that as soon as the water recedes and is dried up, they will do some immediate emergency work on this road."
Three shelters are currently still open in Crooked Tree. The Coast Guard has committed to remain in the village for as long as the residents need them.
The funds for the supplies were donated by the Ministry and other partners of the Coast Guard.
