Laura Farge-Lowe and mother, Gillian Farge, decided to help the Bermuda Red Cross after navigating life with a family member who has dementia.

Island Trading managing director Ms Farge-Lowe said: “When my father required additional support at home, my mother and I were able to secure a hospital bed and lift through the Bermuda Red Cross. We were so grateful.”

Other simple but necessary items were harder to source for the owners of the furniture store at 93 Reid Street, Hamilton.

Mrs Farge, who passed the running of Island Trading to daughter Ms Farge-Lowe a few years ago, began looking for simple solutions that could make home care safer and more comfortable, such as furniture risers and portable exercise bikes.

Island Trading imported a shipment of these items this month and donated them directly to the Bermuda Red Cross.

These products are now available through the charity on Berry Hill Road, Paget to rent or purchase, helping more families access practical support when they need it most.

They also donated an equipment display Island Trading had tucked away in its warehouse.

“The goal was to make the support both practical and impactful,” Ms Farge-Lowe said.

Jennifer Ward, Bermuda Red Cross equipment rentals manager, said it was amazing how simple conversations could result in great things.

“Gill jumped in when she realised we had a shortage of foot cycles available to rent,” Ms Farge-Lowe said. “We have been moving into sourcing convenience items to have available for sale in our equipment rental shop and the furniture risers are a great addition.”

Ms Ward said it does not always take large funds to make a real difference for charities.

“It has been fantastic to work with Island Trading supporting our upgrades,” Ms Ward said.

Island Trading hopes the initiative will inspire other local businesses to consider the many ways they can partner with charities — by contributing expertise, sourcing power, logistics or even overlooked resources already on hand.

“Not every kind of support has to be a cheque,” Ms Farge-Lowe said. “Sometimes the most meaningful help is using what a business does best to solve a real problem in the community.”