Gifts from the heart

People visit the Cayman Islands for the beauty of the destination, but some leave behind more than memories. 

That’s the case with a group of health professionals from Chesapeake Medical Staffing, who visited Caribbean Club for a brief holiday in Cayman. While on island, they also found time to donate baby clothes and related goods to a local organisation. 

“Chesapeake is a private company which sends medical professionals to hospitals which are short staffed,” said Terri Weller on behalf of the group. 

“There’s a national nursing shortage in the States, so our company helps alleviate those challenges. We came for a week to Cayman on vacation which was our first trip.” 

Giving back 

Ms. Weller said it was in her nature to give back and she had been able to infuse that philosophy into the company. 

“Because so many of our employees are field employees we adopt a cause of the island we visit or the place we visit; we have done a new library, an orphanage and this time the request was for small items. We don’t donate cash but buy the items, put them in our services and donate them.” 

Danielle Wolfe of Caribbean Club put the group in contact with the Family Resource programme, she said. 

“There were maternity clothes and numerous items for new babies – everything from diapers and pacifiers to onesies and infant books, it is a collection of things. For us the challenge was that in the States it was winter season so everything was too heavy but we found some nice cotton things too. 

“So many tourists think that this is paradise and it certainly is, but there are real human beings on this island. Although Cayman is known as being affluent there are still social services and people in need,” she said. “You see it when you see housekeepers waiting for a bus; sometimes lack of opportunity and education leads to jobs that are not that high paying. Not everybody is making $45k. Caring is at the root of the nursing profession.” 

The donation was well-received by Miriam Foster, Family Resource programme coordinator, 

“I feel inspired,” Ms Foster said. 

“It is inspirational what they are doing; not just taking a trip and enjoying everything but also making a difference wherever they go. If more people were like that the world would be a better place.  

The young mothers will be thrilled with what they are getting.”