A $75,000 Christmas fundraising campaign was launched yesterday to help buy gift cards for seniors, food and toys.

Gina Spence Productions has already raised $25,000 towards the total amount which will go towards three programmes – a healthy food hamper, a toy drive and pharmacy gift cards for seniors.

CEO Gina Spence said that the need for help in the community, particularly around the holidays, has increased due to Covid-19.

She said: “There are many people who never really got back on their feet during or after the pandemic and a lot of people are struggling to sustain themselves.

“There have been many deaths due to violence, Covid-19 and road fatalities, and a lot of families have lost their breadwinners, the second person who often helped purchase the food.

“I believe that we are now beginning to see the real fallout of the pandemic, now that things have settled a bit.”

Several organisations have partnered with GSP including BGA, Restoration Ministries, One Communications, the Bermuda Post Office and Phoenix Pharmacy.

BGA has donated $2,000 in food for the healthy hampers.

Rollin Nathan, head elder at Restoration Ministries, said: “We in this church recognise that the community is in need of love and attention.

“So when Dr Spence reached out to us, it is so easy and such a joy to actually work with her to give back to the community, to help pain and suffering and provide some love and care. I know that Bermuda is better because of Dr Spence’s journey.

“What GSP is doing is what Christ would be doing if he was on earth. That is the biggest joy for us at Restoration Ministries.”

Ms Spence added: “We are asking Bermuda to come out strong, we know you can. We have very wealthy people on this island and we are asking you to be there for our very own this year.

“We are excited and grateful that we are still here to fill in those blanks.”

The deadline to register to receive a gift card, toy or food hamper is today and the deadline for donations is December 9, but people can continue to contribute after that date.

People can register and donate on ginaspenceproductions.com or drop a new or used toy at Terceira’s gas stations in Warwick, North Shore Road, East Broadway and St John’s Road.

They can also donate by rounding up to the nearest dollar at any of the station pumps.