New 'Spirit of Giving' campaign launched

TUESDAY, NOV. 20: The Bermuda Broadcasting Company ("BBC"), through Community Voices host, Gina Spence, has launched a new campaign: "Christmas in Bermuda ... The Spirit of Giving."

The “Christmas in Bermuda … The Spirit of Giving” campaign will to help and support children and seniors (only those 65 or older are eligable) to obtain items that will help them during these challenging times, notably healthy breakfast and lunch items for children and gift certificates for our seniors to purchase much-needed medication. This is the first campaign to ever raise funds to help seniors purchase medications.

GSPIC, also known as Gina Spence Productions in Christ [registered charity #856], has been selected to oversee the receipt of donations from the community on behalf of lead sponsor, BBC. GSPIC in turn has partnered with Age Concern and The Coalition for the Protection Children (“The Coalition”).

To assist children (through “The Coalition”), please feel free to donate any amount toward the purchase of healthy non-perishable food items by donating to the Gina Spence Productions' HSBC bank account (marked “For Children”). We have partnered with a local wholesale company to purchase the following: boxed cereals, diapers, pasta, pasta sauce, canned tuna, peanut butter, soups and rice. We will then create individual gift packs for the nominated children.

To assist seniors (through Age Concern), please donate at any check-out register at one of the six Phoenix Stores, Brown & Company or P-Tech, by purchasing gift cards which will allow seniors to purchase medication and other soft items (Depends, toiletries, Ensure). Another way to give is by making an online donation to the Gina Spence Productions’ HSBC bank account (marked “For Seniors”). GSPIC will then purchase gift cards and distribute them to Age Concern for their clients. 

Donations can be made online through HSBC to the GSPIC bank account, No. 002-051928-001. Even before the campaign has officially started, $6,000 has already been donated.

Gina encourages you, your friends, family members, soccer teams, rugby teams, golf teams, cricket team, netball team, baseball team, running group, CEO, co-workers, the corporate community, church and civic groups to rally around and support this “Christmas in Bermuda … The Spirit of Giving” campaign.

If you know a needy child or senior, nominations can be made through the GSPIC website, www.gspic.org.

The deadline for giving to this worthwhile project is November 30, 2012.

After the deadline, we will have a Pre-Christmas party on Saturday, December 1, 2012 to distribute the gift packs and cards to the children and seniors. The party will take place at Bermuda Broadcasting Company from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm and will be broadcast live on Power 95. Santa will make an appearance and there will be local entertainment and interviews, with clips and footage to be aired on BBC during the Christmas holiday. In case of rain, the party will be held at City Hall in the City of Hamilton.  

It is planned that this will become an annual event.