FURNITURE Plus made $13,000 in donations to local children's charities in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco as part of its Candles of Hope and Angels of Hope annual Christmas season charity campaigns. The beneficiaries were: Hands for Hunger in Nassau, Grand Bahama Children's Home in Grand Bahama, and Every Child Counts School in Abaco. These charities were selected by the employees of Furniture Plus by unanimous vote. "We are passionate about children's causes and wanted to focus on them at Christmas," said Krystynia Lee d'Arville, vice president of sales, marketing and organisational development for Furniture Plus and founder of the Charity of Hope Foundation. Beginning in October, Christmas trees at Furniture Plus stores quickly filled with Angels of Hope tree tags designating donations by the national furniture chain's friends and customers. "The visual impact was just tremendous," said Scott Ferguson, managing director of the Grand Bahama store. "We are so very proud of the generous spirit of our beloved Bahamians." In addition, customers purchased Candles of Hope, handmade locally, with all proceeds going directly to charity. At the conclusion of the campaign, Furniture Plus matched the $13,012 collected via the Charity of Hope Foundation. "The impact of your donation enables Hands For Hunger to provide 6,355 meals to children in need," said Courtney Hamm, volunteer and corporate partnership co-ordinator for Hands For Hunger. "The unwavering commitment and support from the Charity of Hope Foundation and Furniture Plus's customers, community and staff in the fight against hunger allows H4H to continue its critical work." Yolanda Darville, Hands For Hunger executive director, said: "Of Bahamians living in poverty, 50 per cent are children under age 14. This donation will significantly impact the lives of children who receive food assistance at our 18 recipient agencies throughout New Providence." Jean Hivert, Grand Bahama Children's Home executive committee member, expressed gratitude for the home being selected by Furniture Plus for another year. "We thank the Furniture Plus family for always remembering our children and our home. They continue to support us and we are extremely grateful," she said. Customers and friends in Abaco helped another deserving children's cause. "Every Child Counts is honoured to have been chosen as the designated charity of Furniture Plus in 2011," said Lyn Major, administrator of the school for children with special needs. "All of us at ECC are extremely grateful for the support and generosity of the community towards us as exemplified by that of Furniture Plus. "It is a great feeling to give, but to experience giving to those who are so appreciative brings a unique form of gratification," said Leanne Russell, acting sales and store operations manager for the Abaco store. "Seeing the gratitude and excitement on the faces of the children receiving the cheque today was greater than anything that I have experienced thus far at Furniture Plus." "The Bahamas community has once more come through, proving that even in uncertain economic times their arms and their hearts still reach out to others," said Mrs Lee d'Arville. "They have touched so many of the children in our communities by showing them that they are not forgotten and that we still care." Furniture Plus began selling Candles of Hope and Angels of Hope in 2004 to nurture the spirit of giving during the company's annual Christmas campaigns. Then, in 2011, the Charity of Hope Foundation was founded as a charity arm of Furniture Plus, expanding to embrace charitable causes throughout the year and benefiting 15 Bahamian charities and counting. Last year, Furniture Plus stores in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco awarded more than $40,000 in cash donations to charities while advocating for more citizen involvement in community issues. This, combined with the $13,000 donated at Christmas, brings the total for 2011 to over $50,000. Dawn Forbes, sales and store operations manager for the Nassau store, said: "To me, every Angel represents another child whose future is now just a little brighter thanks to the generosity of others. And isn't that what Christmas is all about?"