BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE of the largest names in furniture retail, COURTS (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd. has remained committed to its civic responsibilities and donated two beds to the fire-stricken Burt-Pennyfeather family.
In a show of support last Friday (Feb. 26), representatives from COURTS handed over two twin-size bunk beds to Joycelyn Pennyfeather, one of the fire victims. The February 13 fire claimed all of the family’s possessions, significantly damaged the Sandy Point home and left two dead: Demary Browne, six, and Kevel Francis, two.
Since then, there has been a strong community effort to repair the home and COURTS’ contribution gels well with the other donations made by top players in the local business community.
Following the brief handing-over ceremony, Company Branch Manager Sharon Herbert told SKNVibes that the company takes pride in making such donations to a family in need.
The company manager explained that Pennyfeather’s beds, which were previously purchased at COURTS and destroyed in the fire, were protected by a special hire purchase package and no further payments are required.
“She purchased a bunk bed from her existing account under an Option Gold. So she was entitled to certain benefits [if affected by] fire, death, redundancy and flood. Because she was covered under that option and her payments were up to date, the insurance was able to write off the balance owing to COURTS under that option, so she doesn’t have to pay for that bed anymore.
“The donation on Friday,” she explained, “does not have anything to do with her account, but that was a donation the company made as it saw the need in one of its valued customers and sought to meet it.”
In response, Pennyfeather was grateful that COURTS had joined the relief effort to put her family on the path to recovery.
“I would like to say a very hearty thank you to COURTS for quite a timely donation. COURTS has always been a very good corporate citizen and contributions such as this augers well. These beds presented to me this morning will go a long way in restoring some comfort and normalcy after such a terrifying and tragic event. Once again I say thank you to Courts for coming to my aid and assisting in the recovery effort,” Pennyfeather replied after accepting the donation.
Coordinator of the Burt Family Relief Effort Cyndie Demming told SKNVibes that she is pleased COURTS has demonstrated its commitment to community development and added that the home, which is currently under renovation, requires a refrigerator, washing machine, television and a stove with an oven.
