Photos/Video: Salvation Army Hamper Giveaway

December 14, 2015

The Salvation Army’s holiday hamper giveaway program is well underway, with the group expecting to assist thousands of people on the island with food and gifts during the Christmas season.

Speaking last week, the Salvation Army’s Major Frank Pittman said, “This was a very exciting day for the Salvation Army. Magic 102.7 arranged for Bermuda Transport System to have one of their pink buses parked outside the radio station this morning from 7.00am until 1.00pm.

“People were coming and filling the bus with boxes of food for the Salvation Army. We just want to say how deeply appreciate we are for that and for Magic 102.7 and to the Bermuda Transport System for providing that bus for them. It’s very, very much appreciated.”

“Bermuda, we appreciate all the support that we get this time of the year. We appreciate our family services staff and all the work that they do; they work very long, tiresome hours and we’re so appreciative of that.

“Everybody who comes to the Salvation Army to receive support, we want them to be treated with dignity and with respect and realizing that we don’t know the circumstances or the reason why everybody is in need. We just want to show them the love of God this time of the year and to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, that God came through Jesus so that we could have the gift of life.

“We just want to give that gift to other people as well during this Christmas season. To everybody from the Salvation Army, we say Merry Christmas and God bless you.”

The Salvation Army’s Family Services Manager Lynn Gordon said, “The community’s very gracious – although Bermudians don’t think Christmas until December, we start in November; it takes that long to process the applications and toys and things like that.”

When asked how many families the initiative would help this year, Ms. Gordon said, “I think we’re probably going to do the same as we did last year; last we’d done about 2,000 at the end, with all the latecomers and people that come at the last minute.”

When asked about particularly needed items, Ms. Gordon said, “Toys is always a issue. It’s been very slow with toys this year, but Bermudians always think of Christmas in December, so they always come in last minute. Kind of panic a little bit, but they always do come through.”

To donate toward the initiative, call 537-6455 in order to arrange pick up.

Click to enlarge photos: