Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - June 2020

june 2020 CARIBBEAN COMPAss pAGE 14
Cruisers Support
Local Relief
in Grenada
The VHF radios of cruisers in Grenada were abuzz in
April with news of a “Virtual Bingo” game. This was
more than a fun way to pass the time under curfew. It
was just one of the fundraising ideas generated to support
Acts of Kindness, a grassroots local project that
provided food and coupons to needy Grenadians during
restrictions related to control of the coronavirus.
Among other fundraisers for the project, Virtual Bingo
alone produced over EC$4,000 from just one session.
As cruiser Philip Thomas said, “This was a terrific way
to repay the island nation who have been such kind
and generous hosts.” Many cruisers also gave cash to
a number of volunteer boats in the various bays.
Acts of Kindness was started by Grenadian Ayanna
Williams, who, beginning with just her family and a
single local mini-market, created a plan to solicit donations
and deliver food hampers and EC$50 coupons
redeemable for goods at participating local shops to
needy and out of work households in Grenada while
people were restricted in their movements by government
legislation to protect the citizens from Covid-19.
It started off as a small idea and within days the project
was warmly embraced by numerous local individuals
and businesses, and then the Grenada sailing community
heard about it. As Philip says, “No one expected to
be confined to just one island, but it happened and so
cruisers became a part of the wider community too.”
Ayanna reports that, “We received and continue to
receive tremendous support from donors including the
sailing community who were eager to help alleviate the
plight of families facing insufficient food. The cruisers
resolutely demonstrated that the Covid-19 pandemic
required an all hands on deck approach to help families
navigate these rough economic waters. With leadership
from their own members, they mobilized among
themselves. The Acts of Kindness team is grateful for
the continued hard work of the members of the sailing
community for both their financial contributions and
their dedication to raising awareness of the initiative.
Their continued support keeps steering this initiative
forward. The Acts of Kindness team recognizes the
ANDRE BURKE (2)
generous contribution of the sailing community and
its affiliates, including Mango Projects Ltd, a marine
surveying business, the Petite Calivigny Yacht Club,
Fast Manicou Delivery Service, the Merry Bakery, On
the Spot Welding and Jenny’s Farmers Market for
their contributions to our efforts. To date, the sailing
community and affiliates have provided over EC$11,000
towards the provision of food hampers.”
Overall, with contributions and support from
Grenadian individuals and organizations, and visiting
cruisers and the local marine business community, by
late April the Acts of Kindness initiative raised over
EC$25,000. Between the start of the project on April
11th and April 26th, 442 families throughout Grenada
benefitted from acts of kindness sown by others.
Contact ayanna8477@gmail.com
for more information.
Right:
Ayanna
Delivering a food
hamper to a
senior citizen in
Corinth, St. David.
Below:
Supported by
Grenadians and
visitors alike, the
grassroots project
helped relieve
the burdens of
families in need.
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