It’s December once again and it’s all about giving back in this season of joy, laughter and great cheer. And The Wave 94.5 & 93.7 FM, in association with sister station wVent 93.5 & 94.7 FM, knows all about giving back. With its annual ‘Toy and Food Drive’, the main event slated for December 20th, 2015, the stations will be giving back to the less fortunate.
The Christmas initiative is co-ordinated by Philgrim Michael Louisy who says he is ‘passionate about giving back and helping others.’
Louisy told The STAR, “The initiative is for helping the needy, children, families and the elderly. Last year, for the first time, we did homes like The Head Cornerstone, The Marion Home and The Crisis Centre. But the homes were different because we added the element of meat, basically chicken, so we actually bought these items for them along with the non-perishable goods donated.”
He continued, “We have been doing this for seven years now having started in 2009. The selection process is kind of unique, because what we do is link with the National Community Foundation. They have a very broad database of every single district in Saint Lucia, so, from that, we have a picture of the entire island. We then go to the different communities and look for representatives who are in direct contact with the families. These are people who know the families personally, who can narrow it down to the specific people who are in need.”
According to Louisy he and his colleagues take this activity very seriously and are asking the general public to continue supporting them. “We are at the various supermarkets and we are asking them to provide one item, a packet of rice, two pounds of flour, tuna fish, whatever it is, just one item. We normally have a shopping cart and are physically outside the supermarkets and we ask the public to support the drive, as we go to the different supermarkets,” Louisy said.
The Wave has, in the past, been able to distribute as many as one hundred and forty seven baskets during its drives and the drive co-coordinator estimates the total value to the efforts have been approximately $50,000.
For those interested in supporting the cause and doing their part in giving back and spreading the Christmas cheer, look for the hash tag #OneItemManySmiles on social media networks to follow updates and be sure to drop your grocery item into The Wave shopping basket next time you visit the supermarket.
Good work Philo