Bowen and Bowen today presented their annual giveaway "jingle boxes" to NGO partners for distribution to the community.
The boxes are funded by contributions from employees - which are then matched by the company - with an additional input from the Coca-Cola mothership.
With all that this year they increased the number of gift boxes to 250 - while also increasing the value of the items in the boxes.
We were there for the handing over to the community based NGO's:
Rosanna Villanueva, Corporate Relations Manager, Bowen & Bown
"So the idea of a jingle box is that it's all the items to make an entire family meal for Christmas. So the boxes have all the basics. It has rice, beans. We have salad, cream, and mayonnaise. We have extra treats in there. We have Coca cola, we have Minute Maid, we have chips, cookies. We have peas and carrots. Whatever you would need to make a complete family Christmas meal. They also have a gift certificate from Caribbean, from sorry, from Quality Poultry where, they can go to redeem and get poultry items for the meal."
"Some of these NGOs we've been working with for years, and we understand that they have the network, they are working across the country. They're very familiar with these families that are in need. And so we partner with them. We give them each a certain number of boxes, and they are the ones who send them out, make sure they get delivered. So we couldn't do this without them. Definitely. We can't do it on our own. So we are super, super thankful that they partner with us each year and assist us in getting the jingle boxes."
Monica Heredia, Volunteer & Youth Development Manager, Red Cross
"First of all, we're very grateful to Bone on Bone for these Mario boxes, these jingle boxes. Last year with the 20 that we received, we were able to identify and support people living with disabilities through our wheelchair program. So this year, with the 15 boxes that we are receiving, we are going to support the families that were affected by flooding. As you know, the villages in the district and some parts of the Belize River valley, they were affected by the recent flooding. And so our volunteers and staff are currently out in the Belize River Valley area doing assessments. And through those assessments, we will identify the 50 most in need to support them with these boxes."
"We are giving the families that we are doing the assessments with, cleaning supplies. We're helping more families with that. And we aren't giving out food at this moment, So this will be a big help."
Yareli Pariente, Member, Society of Saint Vincent De Paul
"Saint Vincent De Paul is an organization which is a nonprofit. Basically, we joined the world and a social network of charity to help those in our parish community that are struggling. Maybe the shut-ins, those with disabilities. These jingle boxes will help us to carry out that mission a little more."
Sonia Byrne, Member, Millie's Cancer Society Belmopan branch
"We are more than happy to receive these boxes to help the really needy. And at the moment, present one with the help of the members, we're gathering the names of the people who really need. And, in Belmopan, we did have a little flooding to the people at my area is from a fine gin establishment. So, presently we are gathering the names to send out the boxes to the people that really need it."
