While she said she was pleased with the number of volunteers who signed up to help renovate the homes of needy families, Velories Figures, executive director of The Coalition for the Protection of Children's said the organisation would welcome more.

"We have people who do all sorts of things, but we always need more," Mrs. Figures said.

Last month, organisation joined forces with Habitat for Humanity Bermuda to aid impoverished families with much-needed renovations on their homes.

Their mandate is to provide interest-free loans to home owners who while may not be able to afford to pay a mortgagee with the bank, but can pay Habitat for Humanity back, Mrs. Figures said.

"The idea is that we want to have a sound home owner in the end," she said.

Mrs. Figures also said besides the assisted family agreeing to give back 500 volunteer hours to the organisation, Habitat for Humanity wanted to ensure they were enabling someone else the chance to live in a home they can afford.

"If someone asks whether we can assist them to build an apartment, we would want to know that they are providing low-income housing for someone in the community. Not charging them $3,000 a month."

Volunteer Giovanni Smith said had always had an interest in the American-based organisation, so when a branch was opened in Bermuda he jumped at the chance. And Pat Burgess, who said she learned about Habitat for Humanity while living in America said the determination to be a homeowner motivated her to sign up.

"I know what's it like to build your own home. We need to reach out and help each other more."

Anyone interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity Bermuda can fill out an online application by logging on www.habitat.bm.