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XL employees roll up their sleeves in Day of Giving

Royal Gazette Staff
Updated: May 13, 2014 08:01 AM
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Pulling together: A team of volunteers from XL pull a trash can full of weeds and other debris collected from the gardens of the Bermuda National Trust’s historic Tucker House in St. George’s. The team trimmed, weeded and planted some traditional kitchen garden and medicinal plants that would have been found in an 18th century garden. They also built a new trellis. XL employees, pictured from left, are Amanda Outerbridge, Cammy Burrows, Robin Saul, Mary Hayward and Page Grundmuller.

XL employees went to work for non-profit organisations all over the Island last Friday.

Their services were donated by the company as part of its ninth annual community service programme known as XL’s Global Day of Giving.

Around 120 of XL’s Bermuda-based employees were involved in the various activities, forming part of a global team of almost 3,000 XL colleagues doing the same in their communities around the world. The day of more than 175 projects began with the XL team in Australia, picking up momentum throughout the day in the Far East, Europe, Bermuda and the Americas.

“It’s powerful knowing that so many of us have been contributing to our communities at once,” said Amanda Outerbridge, XL’s Director of Philanthropy. “It adds up to almost 25,000 hours of community work in a day.

“In Bermuda, we really value what non-profit organisations do in our community — and we want to help in any way we can. Sometimes it’s not just about the money, and our hands-on help can be just as valuable.”

This year XL employees were visible in their bright green branded T-shirts from St George’s to Dockyard working on 11 different projects.

­— Hard work and physical labour was on the agenda with projects at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and Trunk Island, the Bermuda National Trust’s historic Tucker House gardens, the Bermuda Audubon Society’s nature reserve in Paget, and Casemates at the Bermuda National Museum.

— A team working for the Eliza DoLittle Society made enough food to feed well over 500 people — including vegetarian dishes, shepherd’s pies, and desserts.

— At The Reading Clinic, one team used their creativity to make learning kits and games to help children with their Maths studies.

— Recycling was the order of the day with teams sorting and pricing second-hand items for sale at The Barn and Salvation Army thrift shops, and The Reading Clinic’s garage sale.

— The Relay for Life got a boost from another team who worked with staff of the Bermuda Cancer & Health Centre to prepare for the big event on May 31.

— Finally, the animals got some tender loving care from XL volunteers who spent the day at the SPCA.

Globally, attention was focused on various community issues including education/youth development, the environment, homelessness, hunger and senior care.

Cooking with pleasure: A team of XL employees used their culinary skills to cook more than 25 pans of food as well as baked goods at the Pembroke Sunday School for The Eliza DoLittle Society/Daily Bread: Feed Bermuda’s Hungry Children. Pictured up front are: Eliza DoLittle Society Director Margaret Ward, XL’s Rose Burgess, Eve Adamson, and Denise Peters.
Learning is fun: Pictured, from left, are XL’s Sandy Gaglio, Candida Medeiros, Shanelle Reece and Keisha Eve who helped to assemble Math games and learning materials for The Reading Clinic at Serpentine Road, Pembroke.