Distressed families get relief from GraceKennedy

GraceKennedy Money Services (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd ­– agents for Bill Express, FX Trader and Western Union – and Grace Foods Latin America and the Caribbean have joined the food distribution drive to aid families struggling as a result of the covid19 pandemic.

GraceKennedy (TT), in an e-mailed released, said that in conjunction with Grace Foods, donated food hampers on Monday, to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government.

The hampers contain a range of canned and bottled items, that have become a familiar part of the company's Caribbean cuisine including meat and fish products, peas and beans. They are to be distributed immediately to affected people.

“Individuals have lost incomes, but we must not allow them to lose faith,” said Donald Edwards, Country Manager, GraceKennedy (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd. “We are pleased to join corporate TT in doing what we can to assist, using our very own Grace Foods range of products to keep families fed during these unprecedented times.”

Edwards said GraceKennedy is no stranger to serving those at the lower end of the economic spectrum but in the current environment, citizens must do much more than ever to support the society’s most vulnerable. “While we are all adversely affected by the economic downturn some of us are better prepared to cope than others,” he said.

“We have to do the responsible thing and sacrifice a little to give someone else a fighting chance.” He added that as an essential service, most Western Union locations remain open so that money can be sent quickly to loved ones. The company also has digital options that eliminate or minimize time spent at a location including transfer of funds directly to a bank account (Direct to Bank service) or using the Western Union app to start transfers online.

Grace Foods has been a partner in many regional food drives in response to the overwhelming need to help feed families experiencing hardship from loss of incomes. According to Stephen Sadler, Regional Manager, Grace Foods Latin America and the Caribbean: “As a regional company involved in food manufacturing, distribution and sale since 1922, we have never been more mindful of how essential our role is in keeping our societies functioning. We felt compelled to respond to the immediate needs of those without food on their tables, while also heeding the increasing clamour for strengthening food security across the region beyond this pandemic.”