Employees from the ten Urban Renewal Centres in New Providence implemented curbside delivery over the May 1-3 weekend to distribute care packages to senior citizens in those communities in which Urban Centres are located.

The care packages consisted of food items the seniors would need to ensure they had a well-balanced, nutritious meal during the mandatory “lockdown period.”

The curbside delivery of care packages to the seniors was part of the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development’s overall plan to provide the greatest amount of social assistance to persons in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, by maximizing the reach of its human and other resources.

Similar deliveries will be replicated in Grand Bahama, Abaco and the Family Islands in order to be consistent with Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell’s mandate “of not being just New Providence-centric."

As Essential Service workers, the teams were allowed to perform that essential service to the senior citizens.

The teams collected, packaged and distributed food to senior citizens in the Fort Charlotte, Bain Town, Flamingo Gardens, Fox Hill, Free Town, Englerston, Pinewood, Centreville, Nassau Village and St. Barnabas urban communities, all the while strictly following all of the safeguards and protocols set out by the Ministry of Health in the fight to contain the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and in order to ensure the safety of team members and the general public they serve.

“We were mandated by Minister of Social Service and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, to ensure that food is not an issue for persons in need of food assistance, particularly those in the inner-city communities, during the mandatory lockdown period,” Mr. Kellen Russell, Director, Urban Renewal said.

“During this distribution we targeted the senior citizens of the inner city to ensure that the precious pearls were lacking nothing.”

Director Russell said the implementation of curbside delivery service and other services, is part of Urban Renewal’s mandate to transform lives using “innovative measures.”

“Urban Renewal is all about being that beacon of light to those in need in the inner-city. While we are unable to host our seniors and our children at our ten centres throughout New Providence because of the pandemic, we are working to make our presence felt among them through innovative ways -- virtually and now through feeding.

“No matter what happens, Urban will stay on the ground working to carry out our mandate which is to transform lives one community at a time,” Director Russell added.

Residents can contact the Commission Office at 502-4450 for any concerns or issues within the communities. 

Team members of Urban Renewal preparing care packages ahead of instituting curbside deliveries to senior citizens residing in the ten communities in which Urban Centres are located as part of the Ministry of Social Service and Urban Development’s overall plan of maximizing its reach into the communities which they serve. (Urban Renewal Photo)

By Matt Maura