Harris Paints' Mini Colour-Pot Appeal Provides Help for Homeless

With an increase in the number of homeless women with children on the street in Barbados, Harris Paints is urging other corporate entities to join in the fight against homelessness.

The company’s plea was echoed by president and founder of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH), Kemar Saffrey as he thanked the company for its continued support to the cause and its latest fundraising initiative, especially at this time when he said, “we know that the need of people is on the rise especially as it relates to homelessness, among women and children”.

"We want to thank everyone - individuals and organisations - for their support, especially Harris Paints and we hope that more companies would see what Harris Paints is doing and assist.”

The paint company presented the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH) with a cheque for $2,410.00, the proceeds from its Mini Colour Pots Promotion whose objectives were to encourage the company's customers to support the BAEH 's drive to raise $1 million to buy its current home on Spry Street, Bridgetown.

The BAEH’s original fundraising campaign, which began in 2021 was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic but last April, it officially launched the iPledge II appeal to raise the additional funds needed to reach the $1 million target.

Luke Ticknor Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing for Harris Paints International stated: “Our most recent promotion or fundraiser for the BAEH was devised not only to provide a donation but to help us raise awareness of the appeal. By promoting a special offer on our mini colour pots at a key time for home decoration projects, it helped to draw attention to the cause and engaged customers to help us to help BAEH. It was timed to take advantage of the increase in traffic that occurs towards the end of the year, and the traditional painting season for Christmas."

Ticknor added that the company was happy to make the offer a feature during the peak Christmas shopping season, especially “since at this time of the year family is at the forefront and ‘homelessness’ is naturally felt more acutely”.

During the Christmas period, when many Barbadians were repainting their homes, Harris Paints’ customers were encouraged to buy mini pots of paints so they could ensure that they had the precise colour they prefer before purchasing a large quantity. For every two Mini Pots bought, Harris Paints donated 50% of the proceeds or $5 to the BAEH's iPledge campaign.

Saffrey explained that funds collected go toward the purchase and upkeep of the homeless shelter, as well as the continuation of the BAEH’s programme in counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration of people into the community as well as other BAEH services.

He added that many of the women who were accessing the BAEH’s help had mental health issues. “We are working with partners and other organisations to mitigate this problem as we seek to tackle homelessness," he stated.

Photo Caption: Left Retail Services and Company Stores Manager, Barbados – Donette Wharton presents cheque to representatives of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness, Tia Simpson and Rica Edey (Right)