Queen’s Park members, public donate 200 hampers

About 200 hampers were expected to be distributed on Monday at the Queen’s Park Oval, through the combined efforts of Queen’s Park Cricket Club, members of the public, and the Port of Spain City Corporation. Colin Murray, executive secretary of the club, said to collect donations, club officials simply put baskets at the entrance of the Oval and asked members to donate.

Since the donation drive got media coverage, he reported, more people from outside the club have come forward to add to what was already donated. “This morning I was leaving home and someone flagged me down with three bags of groceries and told me to give it to the Oval,” Murray said. “It was amazing.

“They are seeing the suffering going on out there, but they are not members of Queen’s Park and they want to donate.”

The hampers were packed with items such as toothpaste, flour, sugar, oil, cereal, toilet paper, dried and canned peas and marshmallows.

The distribution is expected to last throughout the week and may even go on until next Monday, depending on the volume of contributions.

Murray told Newsday that the previous week when the club began distributing hampers, most contributions came from the club’s 3,000 members. But since then more donations have come from outside.

“People want to help,” he said, “That is the one thing with Trinbagonians, we come together in a crisis.”

He said he felt as time passes more members of the public will contribute because people know that others are suffering. I remember how we came together during the flooding.

“And this is much worse, because when a flood or a hurricane comes you know when it will end. We don’t know when this will end.”

Queen’s Park connected with Port of Spain residents through councillors in each district. and drew up a list from requests the councillors submitted.

Murray explained, “In order to be eligible to get the hamper, you would have to call the councilor in your area, and request that your name be put on a list. You will then be notified when you would be able to go to the Oval to collect.”