Soufriere families get support just in time for Back to School

One hundred families in the community of Soufriere are the latest beneficiaries of the Massy Stores Community Outreach Project which started in June of this year to help families going through COVID 19. The community outreach project is an initiative spearheaded by a company as part of its mission to transform lives by caring about the communities it serves.

On Friday, Sep. 3, Massy Stores representatives were on location in Soufriere, to distribute grocery items and back to school supplies to at-risk families within the community. The Massy team worked with the Soufriere Catholic Church and Mrs. Cecelia Clovis-Haynes, (who represented Principals in the Soufriere are) on this gesture which was deemed as a timely as parents are now preparing for the reopening of school.

Mrs. Clovis-Haynes who is Principal of the Soufriere Primary School spoke on the salience of the initiative to families, many of whom now struggle with unemployment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Circumstances have become a bit dire for those who have lost their jobs, and some are struggling a bit more than normal. As such, I am extremely grateful to Massy Stores for coming to the assistance of the Soufriere community. I know people really needed the help and I am happy to see it come to fruition. Once again, Massy Stores, thank you so much. I am eternally grateful.”

Managing Director of Massy Stores Saint Lucia, Mr. Martin Dorville, responded that Massy Stores aims to be a force for good.

“We are blessed to be one of the largest companies on the island and we have imposed it upon ourselves to always do good and to care for the communities and the environments that we serve,” Mr. Dorville said. “Whenever it comes to supporting and giving, Massy Stores does not hesitate, and so it was not difficult for us to make a decision on this initiative. Any serious organization seeks to care for the communities that it serves, thus we are happy to share 100 very attractive hampers with residents of Soufriere. We hope that through giving we can encourage others to give to those in need.”

Mrs. Nickler Velinor-Paul, Division Head for Human Resources at Massy Stores Saint Lucia, explained that the volunteers personally contributed to the hampers, collecting close to 1000 items in two months.

“The volunteer group is always looking for ideas of what we can do to help, and the community of Soufriere factored in a huge way because we know and understand the needs in this community,” she said. “The donations you see here today began with our team members. For the months of July and August we solicited donations from our 1300 team members, collecting close to 1000 items both in back-to-school supplies and grocery items. This donation is coming from the heart of every single Massy team member to you. It is a pleasure to give back to the community of Soufriere.”

Mr. Dorville also thanked Massy Stores Volunteers. He said: “The staff who were part of this process gave of themselves by making actual product contributions. They participated and epitomized the gift of giving, and the company matched their donations and a little more. Once again thank you for helping Massy accomplish its mission.”

The donation of hampers to the community of Soufriere is the second of a three-part community outreach initiative planned by Massy Stores Volunteers. The team previously came to the aid of students at the Gordon and Walcott Methodist Primary School through the provision of “breakfast bags.”