Butterfield Bank has partnered with one of the island’s largest feeding programmes for those in need.

The mounting evidence of social displacement in Bermuda led to hundreds of volunteers at Christ Church Warwick providing more than a thousand meals a week to those who are homeless or who just find themselves in difficult circumstances.

The longtime programme, which has run throughout the pandemic, has meant the provision of not only hot meals, but also showers and laundry facilities.

The Anglican Church and the Salvation Army operate two of the other programmes that busily provide what they can, on a volunteer basis.

This holiday season, Christ Church Warwick has found help from Bermuda’s oldest bank.

Butterfield has donated 65 holiday hampers, each containing a turkey, fresh vegetables and everything needed for a complete festive meal to the church’s feeding programme. They also gave 30 hampers to the church kitchen for a lunch that will be distributed to those who do not have the facilities to cook.

Butterfield is also donating the funds raised from its annual employee raffle to the Loads of Love programme, which has been running since 2011, to provide the homeless with a shower, laundry facilities and a cooked breakfast.

“Through the feeding programme, Christ Church Warwick has been able to extend outreach services to the entire community,” said church spokesman David Thompson. “The issue of food security has become an incredibly important one and we are delighted to be able to offer meals to individuals and families in need across Bermuda in addition to providing one of the few opportunities on this island for the homeless to have a hot shower, wash their clothes and eat breakfast.

“We want to thank Butterfield, and all our amazing volunteers and supporters, who enable us to do what we do, beyond the onset of the Covid pandemic.”

Butterfield’s managing director in Bermuda, Michael Neff, said supporting the community was important to the bank and its employees.

“We recognise that this time of year brings a lot of joy but it also brings added pressures to many,” Mr Neff said.

“This year our employees will receive a holiday hamper in recognition of their efforts and we wanted to share that festive tradition beyond the building to bring some comfort to those individuals and families in our community who need it most.

“By supporting Christ Church Warwick, we are able to do this and also build on the meal programme we initiated at the start of the pandemic.”

The feeding programme started in March 2020 when Christ Church Warwick received 25 meals a day for the community as part of Butterfield’s partnership with The Loren. The church supplemented this with food cooked on site and now provides on average 300 meals, four days a week.

The programme, supported by an army of more than 200 regular volunteers, provides meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am until 2pm. Drivers distribute to families unable to get to the church. Every two weeks, vouchers are provided to support those who need provisions for young children.

The Loads of Love programme is open every Saturday from 8.30am to 10am providing washing machines, dryers, showers and a cooked breakfast. To volunteer or to donate to the feeding programme or Loads of Love, e-mail david100163@gmail.com.