A $9,000 weekly bill to feed dozens of Bermuda’s hungry is one factor that forced the suspension of a meals programme at the cathedral last month.

The church also noted higher demand and staff burnout ahead of the pause.

The Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, said the programme, which closed on the February 16, catered for as many as 150 people daily.

“We have had some amazing donors and dedicated volunteers, but having just finished another push for funds over Christmas we are back to another push, which is increasingly difficult,” he said.

Bishop Dill said it cost $9 per meal per day and noted that in the months leading up to February, the schedule structure of the programme was watered down as demand for the meals climbed.

He explained that before Covid, the programme was a twice-weekly sit down breakfast.

“On lockdown, we became one of the hubs for food delivery, sponsored by The Loren and the Bank of NTB, through a voucher programme, sponsored by an anonymous donor,” he said.

Thereafter, the church decided to continue the programme and set up a relationship with The Market Place to provide meals 7 days a week.

This effort was supported by donations from individuals and other organisations. He said 90-100 meals were being prepared daily for approximately 18 months. During this time, he said approximately 81,500 meals were prepared.

“That changed about a year ago to weekdays,” Bishop Dill said.

“My estimate is that we served 130-150 people daily, five days a week for the last year,” he said, adding that this translated to approximately 36,400 meals.

“In the last year, the numbers were growing slowly but steadily,” he said.

Bishop Dill noted that another factor that led to the closure was staff burnout. He said the programme was supported by a staff of three to four people each day, who worked voluntarily. A total of 3,830 volunteers worked over the past year.

“Our volunteers have been at this five days a week since Covid and needed a break,” he said.

He thanked donors, noting they went above and beyond to keep the programme alive.

Bishop Dill said the programme was being re-evaluated and likely to be reopened under a structure to make it more sustainable.

“Much of the programme needs a reassessment to enable it to be sustainable and as effective as possible in fulfilling its mandate to service this vulnerable sector of our community,” he said.

“Also, and equally important, we are due to start renovations on the cathedral hall kitchen to do our own on-site cooking and to invite the community in to sit and eat, rather than continuing to offer takeout service,” the church leader noted.

He said in time “this will enable us to offer more comprehensive kinds of support, and create a stronger sense of community and mutual support”.

Bishop Dill noted that the renovation work was in the final stages of obtaining planning approval. “As soon as we get the go ahead, the hall will be a building site,” he added.

The hall is full of the equipment that will be installed to make it a functioning commercial kitchen but completion of the work is subject to all the necessary health and safety requirements.

“We regret the impact that the closure of the programme is having and hope that the time lag will be as short as possible but that when it reopens, it will have a greater positive impact on those who use it and on the community at large,” Bishop Dill said.

He thanked all those who had donated in the past.

“When we do reopen, we will be looking for ongoing sponsorship,” he said.

“In the meantime, I commend those other organisations that continue in this vital work.”