A charity that helps those in need by providing grocery and Belco vouchers as well as other services has seen an increase in demand for its services as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association has given away more than $5,000 since it reopened its doors on May 20 after a relaxation of shelter-in-place restrictions.

Now the charity has appealed to the public for donations to help meet the increase in demand for its services.

Jane Spurling, the chairwoman of the LCCA, said: “There is an increased need to provide more financial support for our current clients coupled with a rise in new applicants who, likewise, need financial support.

“We are appealing to those who are in position to do so, to consider providing financial support to the LCCA, so that we can in turn increase the support to our present clients as well as our new clients who find themselves in need during this time of furlough and redundancy.”

She added: “The LCCA believes that this distressing situation will continue for months and certainly continue well after the government unemployment benefits have ceased, if not through 2021.”

The LCCA distributed $12,250 from its general assistance programme from the beginning of the year until it had to temporarily close its doors during the lockdown.

The charity provided more than $55,000 in grocery vouchers and more than $14,000 in Belco vouchers to its clients over the financial year that ended on March 31.

Ms Spurling said the LCCA anticipated these amounts would increase by a substantial amount this year.

Veronica Harvey, the executive director of the LCCA, said: “The LCCA is in its 88th year of helping those less fortunate and never before has there been a situation like this in Bermuda or worldwide.

“We are one of Bermuda’s oldest charitable organisations, started in 1932 by the then-Governor’s wife, Lady Cubitt.

“Our mission is to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of those in our community who are in medical, financial, or emotional need, with particular care and compassion for children, the elderly and others.”

The LCCA has given 11 seniors iHelp medical alert devices and also provided financial support for seniors who receive financial assistance and live in rest homes that are registered charities to cover their incidentals, including prescriptions, personal care items, foot care, haircuts, and transportation cost to appointments.

It also funds the Lady Swan Memorial Award, which provides a $10,000 grant to the Reading Clinic every year to support two or more students in financial need.

Ms Spurling said the LCCA had created a seniors’ dental programme because there was “an unmet need in the community for dental treatment of economically disadvantaged seniors, 65 and over without dental insurance”.

She added: “In addition to the charitable programmes we operate, we also help out on a case-by case basis; for example, LCCA recently purchased a hospital bed and wheelchair to enable a quadriplegic to continue to be cared for at home.

“There are many of these case-by-case needs that we receive requests for on a regular basis and do our best to help where we can. There are many clients for whom we purchase essential equipment, sometimes life-saving equipment.”

The LCCA said it ensured checks were made with other social service agencies on the island, including government services, before it gave assistance.

The charity holds a tag day in Hamilton and St George’s every September.

It has raised an average of $26,000 a year for its general assistance programme over the past five years.

But, because of the Covid-19 crisis, this year’s tag day will be virtual.

The LCCA also manages the Patient Overseas Financial Aid programme that sends patients abroad for treatment not available in Bermuda.

The programme is funded by the Bermuda Government.

• To donate to the LCCA contact info@lcca.bm or call 292-1132. Alternatively, donate directly online to the LCCA HSBC bank account 010-287209-001 and advise by e-mail of your online contribution