As you are all no doubt aware (if for no other reason because of the music which started in Riteway a few weeks ago) Christmas is fast approaching and we hope that you are all getting prepared.

This year, in these extraordinary times, RISA is keen to help as much as possible . As such, we are joining forces with Tree of Hands (TOH) to try and help those in the BVI who are struggling this year more than ever and we need your help!

As you all probably know, every year TOH collects presents for the children in our community that Santa forgets and everyone is asked to donate and wrap a toy with the age of the child and boy/girl written on the label.  TOH then delivers these toys to children throughout the territory on Christmas Eve.  This year, however, TOH is getting more ambitious!  Alex Durante has been updating the members of the board just how tough conditions are for some people within the BVI even in normal years and this year, as a result of COVID things are even worse.  As we are sure you all know there are many families who cannot afford groceries and electricity, let alone gifts for their children and without help they face a miserable Christmas.  This year, therefore, as well as providing toys for the children, TOH is looking to provide a Christmas meal, other groceries to help people through the season and, if there is any spare cash, to pay the electricity bills of those families who have been cut off because they simply can’t pay.  To help, RISA is seeking to raise $10,000 for this effort and we are hoping that each member firm will be able to make a pledge, together with donations from individual members (presents for children are also, of course, welcome and encouraged).

As this is clearly going to be a much more onerous task TOH is also asking for as many volunteers as possible.  They are going to need people to assist with the following (dates to be confirmed):

(1)    to help to purchase the food and deliver it to restaurants (TOH are asking for help from restaurants to cook or part cook some of the food to help those with no power) (date to be confirmed);
(2)    to help to box the food before delivery (22 December/23 December); and
(3)    to help with delivery on Christmas Eve (we imagine this could work if people are just prepared to give a few hours and the delivery can take place in shifts) (23 December/24 December).

For delivery, the plan is to have a convoy of cars and trucks (International Motors are lending some trucks for the day) with Christmas music blaring and a Santa to deliver the presents to the children along with a team of elf-like helpers from the insolvency community to deliver the food packages.  Please help us to help TOH to make this occasion as festive as possible to try and create a Christmas that people can remember even in these difficult times.  As one little boy said last year “I believe in Santa but he never remembers me” – please help us to make sure that Santa remembers all of the children this year.  Without your help this will simply not be possible!

As we have fewer social events this year, and as such have saved a bit of money, RISA proposes to start the ball rolling by donating $2,000.  If you and/or your firm are able to make a donation, please send all donations by cash or cheque to Nathan Mills (made payable to RISA (BVI) Limited) and marked for this purpose. If anyone would like to donate a gift, these can be delivered to any board member’s office (www.risabvi.com for full details of the board).

Please can all volunteers contact Claire Goldstein ([email protected]) and indicate which day(s) and time slot(s) for which you may be available.

Thank you so much for your help.