Freeport, Grand Bahama – Fulfilling their promise to “Lend
a Hand, Give a Can” the 1st and 2nd year Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS)
apprentices delivered their first set of donations to the Salvation Army
yesterday. “We have collected
almost $6,000 in canned goods and cooking materials,” said Don Forbes, GBS
Training Manager. “It’s been a real insight for our apprentices to see the work
that goes into garnering these donations from the public.”
The apprentice staff has been
soliciting food donations at local supermarkets throughout Grand Bahama for the
last month, working shifts on Saturdays to amass this huge gift to the
Salvation Army. “It’s wonderful, these donations are going right in our
Christmas packages for delivery this week to over 450 needy families in Grand
Bahama,” said Captain Compton, Salvation Army, Grand Bahama. “The foods collected will add variety
to our normal baskets and will allow us to expand our program to East End this
year!”
The apprentices not only collected
the food but also organised the entire project including their working schedule
and coordination with local stores to solicit at their locations. “I am excited
and proud to see what our apprentices have done,” exclaimed a very enthusiastic
Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, Chairman and CEO of the yard. “Last year we were a bit
rushed in our efforts, but I am proud of our young apprentices who have taken
over this project and made it such a success. They are learning what it takes to care for their community,
we are proud this has become part of our leadership program.”
Not done yet the apprentices and
their Training Manager are still soliciting more donations until the yard
closes for the holidays. “We are
going back to the shipyard now and will continue to seek our own staff’s
generous support of this program,” added Forbes. “We want to help the Salvation Army fulfill their goals to
help everyone in Grand Bahama this Christmas – and we will be back!”
