The Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS) is seeking th public’s help to raise $2 million from spare change donations for its Meals on Wheels programme.
The Coin Collection Drive started on April 20 and will run until May 8, the charity said in a pressrelease. Funds collected for the programme will enable the GRCS to supply a hot, nutritious midday meal to persons who are unable to cook or shop for themselves.
“The Meals on Wheels programme allows people to maintain a healthy lifestyle while remaining independent and in their homes as long as possible,” the Red Cross said. The programme has been in operation for over 50 years and delivers meals to shut-ins every day, demonstrating the Principle of Humanity in action.
The initiative is as a result of a recent meeting with the central bank authorities, who indicated that although they have released a large amount of $1, $5 and $10 coins into circulation, from time to time they are unavailable in the banking system. The central bank has been appealing to the public to bring in coins or donate them to charities through collection boxes.
The GRCS is one of the organisations that the bank has named as a willing partner to help collect the coins so that they can be re-circulated. In this regard, the Red Cross is appealing to retail locations, offices, banks and schools to place Coin Collection Containers in their buildings, where persons can easily donate their spare change.
The Guyana Red Cross Society is a non-profit, humanitarian organisation that depends on donations to do its humanitarian work. “Your support can help make a big difference in a person’s life,” the charity said in a press release. Dorothy Fraser, Secretary-General of the GRCS, noted that like all national societies, the charity has to raise its own funds to cover the cost of its local programmes and projects. “This is becoming increasingly harder while at the same time experiencing a greater need by persons and communities seeking assistance,” she said.
