7 News Belize

Warm Meals To Ease Off The Cold Shoulder Treatment
posted (October 28, 2010)
And while storm victims are receiving rations and assistance, for those whose homes have been reduced to rubble, there are still no hot meals - mainly because they don't have anywhere to cook.

This afternoon I was a part of assisting in that effort and Monica Bodden found another group doing the same:..

This was what the Wilt Cumberbatch field looked like late this evening… A massive crowd of area residents - All lined up with gas tanks - Waiting to be filled…

Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor
"Well what happen is that on the ground the situation isn't what is ought to be. You know that we at the council collectively maybe individually we have friends and you call on your friends in a time of need and we call on BWEL to came out and try to assist the residents of Port Loyola on this side and see what they could have done and they readily came with their bowser and have donated butane gas to about 60 families."

Lionel Reyes - General Manager - BWEL
"We at BWEL believe that it's our corporate responsibility to try to do something and help Belize City residents as well as loyal customers for BWEL. BWEL has been operating here in Belize City for the past 23 years and like I said I believe its our corporate responsibility, everybody actually to give a helping hand in times like these, hence the reason why we try to organize it for today, last minute because as you could see we have big turnout."

And while people of that community walked away with 5 gallons of Butane Gas - truth of the matter is - Many still don't have a stove to cook on….

But that's not stopping them from getting a hot meal this evening - Thanks to the Toys for Tots Committee…

Indira Craig
"Monica After the news last night I think a lot of people wanted to come on out here and find some way in making a contribution that really meant something. This morning actually last night after the news Toys for Tots committee kind of got together and came up with a couple ideas of which among them was the most important one in trying to have a makeshift type of kitchen so that we can serve hot meals. We know that there is a lot of supplies being given out however we feel that at this point without stove, without that type of amenity people really do need to just have a place that they can come to that they can have a hot meal and that's what we are trying to do. We started off this morning very early, we have Mark Usher from PROTO who jump in and as we've been going on through the course of today we've had a lot of other people who have been jumping in to give us some assistance, we've had Food and Beverage, we have Grace Kennedy and we've had donations coming in that is assisting us in trying to put all together. Mr. Pitters gave us 300 packs of bread, so what we will be doing right now will be serving out meal for the remainder of today. We have a hot soup that is being catered to between 300-500 people and in the morning we will be having a breakfast, we will be having lunch tomorrow and as well we will be having supper in the night and we will try to continuing this for as long as we need to until the proper authorities are in and are stable and we can feel as if though there is enough where we can step aside and have the proper people kind of taking over so its just a gap program; just fills the gap right now the little holes and be able to at least build the momentum of having people out there know that there are others ways that we can try to work together as a community in trying to make a difference in helping and in just being on the ground trying to cater especially the kids and the elderly that are out here."

There were many other organizations out in the Yabra area this evening - Lending a helping hand to those in need.

Yolanda Shakron - Belizeans for Justice
"We just came to distribute some clothes to the people back here because as you can see the lost everything. We have started from yesterday. we came just to walk the area and we saw the needs, we mobilize and we had some; Cuello's Distillery donated to us some money, JEC, Ramon Galvez from MJs and we delivered 90 packs of food yesterday for them and we will continue. We started a drive for clothing and can foods; we want to bring it out here to the people. We are asking NEMO to please come and provide these people with some mattresses, we know that the Mexican donated so many mattresses and these people are very much in need of a mattress. I have seen them sleeping on wooden things; on the ground, I mean they need it, the need just the basic needs right now, clothing, food, water and a bed."

Monica Bodden
"Now coming through these areas, how emotional have it been for you?"

Yolanda Shakron - Belizeans for Justice
"It's really hard Monica because we take everything for granted. Yesterday when we came here, when the people was begging us for water, I was like my God they don't even have water to drink, and we have that available to us right there and I saw the conditions they are living in; they are sleeping on the floor. There are so many children who have nothing. "

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