Dear Sir,

We are once again asking your newspaper for this note of appreciation and heartfelt thanks to our Bermuda community.

A very special thanks to The MarketPlace for the use of all their premises for our Share the Christmas Spirit Tag Day, which was on November 27, 2021. This past Christmas we supplied 615 food hampers. The committee feels very grateful for the continuing support that our island has shown over the 33 years by placing nonperishable goods in decorated bins at all MarketPlace stores.

We do realise that, because of Covid-19, families are finding it very difficult to feed their families. Our hope is that we were able to help in some small way. As chairwoman of the Share the Christmas Spirit project, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to president Seth Stutzman, Ladricka Simmons, Natalie Rego and Rita Pereira, of The MarketPlace. A special thank-you to Joseph Cheeseman for his overwhelming support and hard work by collecting goods from all MarketPlace stores, schools and businesses who made donations.

Thank you to the Bermuda Police Service manager for facilities and property, George Mensch, for allowing us to use their Clocktower Building at Prospect. Thank you also to our donors, Oil Group of Companies, Hannover Re, Wakefern Food Corp., MarketPlace Stores, Roger Pacheco, from Pacheco Farms & Sons, and his staff for their continued support by donating and delivering fresh vegetables for all the hampers, BGA, Butterfield & Vallis, H&H Plumbing, and Lionel Raynor and his staff. We are most grateful to the Berkeley Institute PTA, Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, government preschools, primary schools, middle schools and high schools for their continued support and contributions.

I would also like to thank Hamilton Lions members Debbie and Dudley Cottingham for opening their home to members of the Bermuda Lions so we could wrap the Christmas boxes. I would also like to thank the following Lions and friends for volunteering their time to help with the Share the Christmas Spirit project — past District Governor Stephen Dean, 2nd District Governor Mark Botelho, Jeff Trott, Marlene Christopher, Geraldine Waldron, Joanne Talbot-Johnston and Jean Stovell. Thank you to Dalton Stovell, who assisted with set-up, Shirley Ible, Diane Furbert, the late Sidney Simmons and Raymond Simmons, who assisted in helping to pack food hampers and delivery of food hampers.

On behalf of Lions Clubs of Bermuda members, we want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this pandemic and that a blessing will be placed upon you in 2022.

DESSIE WALDRON

Chairwoman, Share the Christmas Spirit

Lions Clubs of Bermuda