NASSAU, The Bahamas – Urban Renewal Centres across New Providence concluded their second week of hosting Monday-Friday luncheons for children in the various communities they serve (July 26-30). Officials at the Urban Renewal Commission say the lunch programme has provided an average of 150 daily meals and other necessities at each of the ten urban communities in which centres are located throughout New Providence.

That amounts to 1,500 children per day, 7,500 for a five-day week, and 15,000 over the first two weeks of the three-week programme. Officials have used curbside distribution protocols to facilitate the lunch programme.

Menus for the Programme have ranged from the traditional, children-friendly, foods such as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken wings and chicken leg quarters (baked, barbequed, fried, curried), mashed potatoes, hot dogs, pasta and pastries of all sorts, along with what most children consider “not so much a favourite,” -- foods such as vegetables, garden salads, in addition to a variety of fruits, to ensure that balanced meals are being served. The meals have been accompanied by bottled water and fruit juices. The menus change on a daily basis to allow for variety for the children.

Urban Renewal officials said their main objective is to provide delicious, hearty, and nutritious meals to the kids “that can carry them throughout the day.” Staff at the Urban Renewal Centres, and in some instances their volunteers, prepare the meals voluntarily.

Recognizing the need for their Centres to adhere to the health and safety protocols established by the Ministry of Health to limit the community spread of COVID-19, the Urban Renewal Commission distributed 300 cloth masks to each Centre for distribution to any child/children requiring masks. The Centres have also been following the safety protocols with regards to the guidelines for physical distancing and hand sanitizing.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, said the Lunch Programme, is a key component of the Government’s response efforts to provide critical State support to Bahamian families during the COVID-19 Pandemic by implementing, strengthening, and expanding 12 key initiatives.

“The government’s response has also included the provision of free Wi-Fi and laptop computers to children in Inner-City communities to reduce the financial pressure on families while providing for continuing education during the Pandemic; the availability of grants to civil society organizations, women’s groups, non-profit and non-governmental organizations to help families; the provision of tax incentives and financial subventions to businesses that are designed to maintain and/or increase employment for Bahamians, and the implementation of Inter-ministerial programmes that integrate security, education, health and nutrition policies to strengthen families,” Minister Campbell said.

“Social Services subsidy programmes, as well as National Insurance non-contributory benefits, have also be given to employed and unemployed family members who care for family members with disabilities, those who care for elderly parents, children, and the Home. We have also implemented the ProMIS Online registration process, that includes cash transfer payments, for families seeking assistance and support. The Government has also introduced VAT Free Back-to-School Shopping Days to help families.

“Education, housing, food security, quality health services and social services assistance are important for a fulfilling life,” Minister Campbell said. “Research has shown that by putting family and household at the centre of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the educational achievements of children are richer, families become stronger, the economy improves, and the nation advances.”

Mrs. Nicole Nabbie-Miller, Centre Manager at the Flamingo Gardens Urban Renewal Centre, said officials at her Centre (Mrs. Nabbie-Miller is assisted by Mrs. Cyke Greenslade and Mrs. Dereka Sweeting) view the Lunch Programme as another avenue in their continuing efforts to serve the community.

“We are very appreciative of this opportunity to help some of our parents out at this time by providing meals for their children at lunch time,” Mrs. Nabbie-Miller said. “We look forward to coming to work everyday and preparing the meals ourselves so that the kids can benefit from a nutritious, hearty, hot and delicious meal. We see it as a calling and are happy and excited that we can do our part to provide our kids with lunch. This is the summer and kids are at home and sometimes, for many of them, the meals we serve may be the first thing they have eaten for the day.

“What has been further gratifying for us is that we have received tons of messages from grandparents and parents thanking us for our efforts. That means a lot to us. This community means a lot to us,” Mrs. Nabbie-Miller added.

A similar effect is occurring in Fox Hill where Mrs. Sonia Kemp is the Centre Manager.

“The parents in Fox Hill are so pleased with this initiative because some persons were experiencing difficulties in providing lunch for their children on a daily basis as a result of the negative effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Mrs. Kemp said. “Our ability to provide hot, nutritious, hearty meals that can sustain the children for long periods of time over the past two weeks, has had a significant impact on our community.

“We appreciate the fact that our parents come and say how happy they are, how pleased they are that we are doing this for the children and how this initiative has made a great impact in their lives, and the lives of their children,” Mrs. Kemp added.

Mrs. Dianne Forbes-Gaitor, Centre Manager at the Nassau Village Urban Renewal Centre, said the Lunch Programme has been: “a God-send for Nassau Village given the fact that the children look forward to having lunch provided for them Monday through Friday.”

“This is a great initiative,” Mrs. Forbes-Gaitor said. “Normally during this time, we would have been hosting our Summer Camps across the Urban Renewal family, but because of the COVID-19 Protocols, we were asked to implement the Lunch Programme instead, and it is doing an exceptional job for not only our children, but also some of our adults as well.

“The programme has been well-received. Parents are thankful and are elated because at least they know that if their children did not have breakfast, they will get a hot lunch coming from the Urban Renewal Centre. The kids look forward to it, the parents look forward to it, and we, as a Centre, are elated to know that we are providing this kind of service to our community as we continue to strive to assist persons in our community. We feel an added sense of pride, an added sense of patriotism, when we can provide this kind of service to our children and our community. It’s an awesome feeling to see the smiles on their faces,” Mrs. Forbes-Gaitor added.  (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)