Red Cross relief Food program for schools on the move…
The Netherlands Red Cross has started a food program in the schools of St. Maarten as part of their relief program for the Country after the passing of Hurricane Irma. According to Pamela Riley, the head of the Red Cross, the idea is to work along with Government as partners to carry out the program for a period of three months and hopefully extend it further, if funding can be provided. The relief program is expected to bring some assistance to the families socially and economically.
The social stress brought on by the passing of Irma saw many families unable to provide a meal for their children before sending them off to school, and the meal program, even in its early stage has been able to fill that void for some 17 Schools with just under 5000 children. When asked how this would translate into real help, the Red Cross official says that parents, as well as the children, won’t have to think about that aspect of survival but can focus on other areas of recovery.
The Red Cross is supported by the expertise of “Open House”, an Event Planning company who have volunteered their services, and is also known in the Netherlands to have produced meals in large quantities. Their assistance helped to make possible the logistics and provided the technical knowledge needed to be able to roll out this many meals in quick time. The majority of additional help comprises of past graduates of the SUNDIAL School who were hired to work in the preparation of the meals throughout the program.
Interestingly, the Hospitality area of the Sundial School that is being used for the Food Program, was hit hard by the hurricane. With the assistance of the military Engineers, they were able to replace the entire roof, repair the damages and made the area suitable for production.
The program started just under two weeks now and it allows for the team to work out the kinks in the distribution, run some tests in all routes with fruits, sandwiches and juices but is expected to prepare a full menu with all meals including hot lunches by the week of the 13th of November.
The Red Cross will also carry out an evaluation in the form of a survey to measure the results of the food program and how it is impacting the homes and families.
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