RESIDENTS of the Marie Atkins Shelter and victims of the recent Mark Lane fire should have a merrier Christmas, thanks to telecoms company Digicel.

The company, as part of its Merry Millions Christmas promotion in which it gives $1 million to a lucky customer each week, donated $1 million to the shelter and fire victims.

“As a part of the downtown community, it is our responsibility to help our neighbours and support them in their time of need. The Marie Atkins Shelter is a place of refuge for many, so we wanted to make the facility an even more comfortable place to stay. As for the victims of the recent fire on Mark Lane, we know these supplies will go a far way in giving them a new start after such a devastating ordeal,” said Andrea Hardware, director of human resources at Digicel.

Supplies received included food, clothing, beds, pillows, mattresses, baby items and cleaning items.

Mavis Farquharson, acting inspector of poor in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, said the donation will go a far way in helping residents of the shelter.

“We don’t have enough money to meet the needs of all our residents, so this donation is a big help. What many people may not know is that a number of the residents actually work and some go to school at the Heart Trust/NTA TRUST/NTA, so donations like this one serves as encouragement to them to work harder to be successful. We do hope that other corporate companies will follow Digicel and also give back,” Farquharson said.

Sophia Brown, a victim of the Mark Lane fire, also thanked Digicel for the donations.

“Many people come down here and look at us but only some of them actually deliver on their promise. So big up, Digicel because we really need the help,” she said.

Almost 50 people lost their homes and personal belongings in the fire at Mark Laneon December 4.