Volunteers from LNG producer Atlantic made the Point Fortin Extended Care Centre a brighter place as they came together to paint, garden and set up furniture for the Centre’s residents on May 21, the United Way Day of Caring.
A caretaking facility for physically and mentally disabled persons, the Point Fortin Extended Care Centre currently houses (33) residents with ages ranging from 25-95. The Atlantic employees and their families spent most of the day painting and outfitting the Centre’s Occupational Therapy Room, setting up desktop computers and bookshelves and planting seedlings in a home garden and along the centre’s fencing. The company also donated a number of items including industrial fans, water dispensers, wheel chairs and a spin bike. The volunteers then treated the residents, staff and caregivers to refreshments and a hearty lunch.
Tameeka Luces-Lima, an analyst at Atlantic and Coordinator of the LNG producer’s United Way Employee Committee, explained that the company’s involvement in the annual national initiative by United Way Trinidad and Tobago helped to build strong corporate team spirit and raise employee awareness of those in need in the wider society.
“Volunteerism is a key component of Atlantic’s corporate culture and the company’s employees look forward to helping out wherever we can,” said Luces-Lima. “For this year’s Day of Caring, it was really a team effort, as our staff came together to see how best they could have helped the residents of this home and lend support. “We engaged our Graduate Trainees to assist in leading the effort. Over a few weeks they collected a large number of food items and toiletries from staff, which were added to the company’s donations on the Day of Caring.”
United Way TT is the local arm of United Way International, a non-profit organisation which raises charitable donations from companies and individuals and channels these funds to the NGOs which deliver critical social services to persons in need. Atlantic has been a partner with United Way Trinidad and Tobago since 1999.