Clarien Bank is pleased to announce that its annual Holiday GiveBack Campaign raised a record total of more than $17,000 for Meals on Wheels.

Michael DeCouto, Chief Marketing Officer of Clarien Bank, today presented a cheque for $17,033 to Jason Powell, a member of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels. Since 2010, the annual campaign has donated more than $100,000 to the Meals on Wheels programme.

The money was raised through donations by Clarien employees and customers over the Christmas holiday season; from donations made during Gibbons Company’s “Shop & Give Thursday” on December 14; and a Clarien Bank employee Denim Day.  The donations were matched by The Clarien Foundation. Clarien staff members also spent a day volunteering at the Meals and Wheels kitchen in Paget, helping prepare meals.

Mr. DeCouto said: “Clarien would like to thank the community for once again generously supporting our Holiday GiveBack Campaign and helping Meals on Wheels to continue to provide the service that is critical to those less fortunate than ourselves. The fact that this is the largest amount ever raised during our GiveBack campaign shows that Bermuda’s compassion and spirit of giving is stronger than ever.”

Mr. Powell commented: “On behalf of Meals on Wheels I would like to thank Clarien Bank and everyone who donated to the Holiday GiveBack Campaign. We deeply appreciate your generosity and we especially value Clarien’s commitment to Meals on Wheels.”

For 40 years, Meals on Wheels has been delivering freshly-cooked, nourishing lunches across the Island to those unable to prepare a proper meal for themselves, such as the sick, elderly and disabled. It presently delivers 180-200 lunches four days a week as well as an additional 80 frozen meal replacements for Thursdays and weekends. The regular deliveries also provide an important and reassuring daytime check on the welfare of recipients.