Dear Sir,

Please allow us to use your newspaper for this note of gratitude and appreciation to our community.

A special thanks to the MarketPlace stores for the use of all their premises for the “Share The Christmas Spirit” Tag Day, which was held on November 28, 2015.

This past festive season, we were able to supply food hampers to 582 households.

We were overwhelmed by the support shown to this programme from the public in providing perishable items, which were placed in the decorated bins at all MarketPlace stores.

We do understand that families are still finding it very difficult to make ends meet and our prayer was that we were able to help in some small way.

As chairwoman of the programme, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to Gary Schuman, the president, Laticka Simmons, Natalie Rego, Rita Pereria, Albertha Waite, of the MarketPlace, and especially Joseph Cheeseman for his unwavering hard work in collecting all the goods from the East End and West End of the island, including all schools that made donations to this worthwhile effort.

Thank you also to our donors, the MarketPlace, Wakefern Food Corporation, Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Oil Group of Companies, John Perinchief and staff of the Bermuda Police Recreation Club, BGA Group of Companies, Butterfield and Vallis, Roger Pacheco and staff, for going above and beyond in making sure that all food hampers had vegetables, the PTB, Lionel Raynor, Europa Imports, Compass Point HSBC, the Bermuda Society for the Blind, Debbie and Dudley Cottingham for opening their home, along with other members of Hamilton Lions Club for wrapping the boxes.

I would like to also thank the following Lions, family and friends for assisting with the preparation of the hampers: Lion Edna Dill and family, Lion Stephen Dean and family, Lion Joann T. Johnston, Mrs Augustus, Sidney Simmons, Lion Maxine Burns, Joan Joslyn, Delma Parfitt, Dawn Simmons, Geraldine Waldron, Warwick Academy Leo Club adviser and members.

We also thank all the government preschools, primary schools, middle schools and high schools, along with Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, Bermuda Institute of the Seventh-day Adventists and the Bermuda High School for Girls for all of their contributions.

Our prayer is that God will fill your days with lasting joy, your hearts with peace and cheer, and may the blessing of His love go with you and your families through this year.

LION DESSIE WALDRON, ZC

The Lions Club of Bermuda

“Share the Christmas Spirit” project