As the Salvation Army prepares to launch its annual Christmas Kettle on Friday, Manager of the Drug Rehabilitation Programme, Major Ulrick Thibaud is urging all to support this charitable venture.
During a recent interview with Stabroek News Major Thibaud who has been working with the Salvation Army here in Guyana for just over three years said that the money raised will be used to buy items to fill hampers which will be distributed to the less fortunate. “We will help that person to have a better Christmas,” he said adding that the every dollar counts.
Major Thibaud urged persons to donate whatever they can even if it is a $20. He said that over the years the response to their initiative has been great. “We must congratulate the people of Guyana for their wonderful support. They have been supporting us over the years. We are able to do work …because of the generosity of the people of Guyana,” he said.
He said that the institution also has been holding a fund raising dinner since 2011 and each has been successful. He said that the one last year was a “grand success”. He added that the money raised during the second dinner was used to purchase an eight-seater van in May this year. This vehicle he said will be used to transport persons around Guyana on an awareness and education campaign on the dangers of drugs.
He said that in order for this to happen, the Rehab centre will need funds to go to those faraway places. “Yes we have staff but we need materials. We don’t have money in our budget as yet to do that particular thing. We are looking forward for some people to sponsor this programme so that they can help us educate people about the dangers of drugs in Guyana’s society,” he said. In August this year the vehicle was used to transport counsellors to Linden for a youth camp where a workshop was held.
Giving an insight into the work of the Salvation Army, he said the institution has been in Guyana for the past 120 years. “It is not a fly-by-night organisation. We have been serving the people of Guyana for 120 years,” he said adding that the organisation will remain here to serve the less fortunate. He said that wherever there is a need there is the Salvation Army. “We don’t have everything that we should have but with the little that we have…the general population will be motivated to give us more support to us,” he said adding that there are 11 branches of the Salvation Army spread across the country.
There is also a home for the elderly, a feeding programme at the headquarters in Alexander Street and a League of Mercy, through which items are distributed to persons in the prison and hospitals.
