expansion of his Recession Fighters Programme.

Non-perishable food items will be collected at selected supermarkets across the Island and used to make up food baskets which will be distributed by the Salvation Army to people who need assistance.

And the programme will assist the Salvation Army each week by providing hot meals at the Harbour Light shelter on Victoria Street.

The projects are co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, which is donating the food for the hot meals.

Food collection will take place from March 15 to April 30 at the Hamilton MarketPlace , Miles, the Supermart, Modern Mart, Lindo's, the Shopping Centre, White's, Heron Bay MarketPlace and Shelly Bay MarketPlace.

In the past the programme has offered seminars on dealing with unemployment and coping with stress. And it has offered retraining programmes for the unemployed and sent out information kits with hints for people getting social assistance.

In the future the Minister hopes to set up a programme to train unemployed people to be waiters.