DESPITE the recent inclement weather, volunteers from Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay sought to bring some sunshine by distributing grocery packages to more than 70 needy families across Trelawny.

The grocery distribution programme, dubbed the ‘Give Back Tour’, was organised and led by the resort’s regional public relations office in collaboration with the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s Poor Relief department. The tour brought together eager volunteers who packed and distributed packages containing essential food items and toiletries.

Families and individuals who received the packages expressed profound gratitude for the much-needed support. “This package means a lot to me,” said one beneficiary. “It’s been tough for my family to make ends meet, and knowing that people in my community care enough to help is truly heartwarming.”

For another beneficiary, an elderly man who mostly eats what he can grow himself, the package couldn’t have come at a better time. “With the heavy rains I haven’t been able to go out and do my usual work and as a result, I didn’t know how I was going to pull through, so I’m really thankful for this package.”

Garcia McLean, acting deputy inspector of poor at the Trelawny Poor Relief Department, said there is a growing demand for support, with 700 clients currently enrolled and an increase of more than 60 new beneficiaries in the past year. She attributed this to referrals from families, churches, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and proactive efforts by department officers.

Last month, Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region supported the Poor Relief Department by providing warm meals for the homeless on World Homeless Day. The Trelawny Municipal Corporation also staged a successful 5K run raising funds in support of the homeless and poor living in the parish.

McLean expressed thanks to the Sandals team for its assistance.

Sandals Regional Public Relations Manager Rochelle Forbes-Reid said the aim of her office and Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region is to use community efforts to target marginalised groups and design programmes that meet them where their most immediate needs exist.

“Our work brings us into a lot of communities and we know that many families are finding it harder and harder to afford necessities from school supplies for back-to-school, to toys at Christmas to basic everyday needs like groceries,” Forbes-Reid said. “While our company supports long-term development and transformative programmes through the Sandals Foundation, our goal with community relations initiatives such as the Give Back Tour is to alleviate some of that burden now and bring a sense of hope and support to our community members.”

Forbes-Reid noted that partnerships with local government organisations, businesses and other charity groups have been helping to connect those in need to entities that can lend support and bring together resources, demonstrating a powerful community collaboration.

Sandals Royal Caribbean General Manager Dawn Smith applauded the efforts of her team and the Trelawny Poor Relief department with the Give Back Tour. She noted that as food prices continue to rise, Sandals Resorts in the Montego Bay region hopes to make this initiative a recurring one, expanding efforts to reach even more people in need.