March 2021 Newsletter
BBS Relief & Covid 19 Assistance
Relief and assistance are the mission of the BBS. As such, we have tried to keep everyone informed of requests for assistance and aid of which the charity has been involved. Since the start of the pandemic, one year ago, the BBS has provided close to $150,000 in compassionate financial relief to Brits in need.
February continued to be another busy month for the Relief Committee as we received requests from the British Consulates in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Two recipients of the $1,500 Covid 19 Grant used the funds to make rent, something that they both expressed they would not have been able to do without the help of the charity. Each applicant had not received a regular paycheck since March 2020. The Committee also approved funding to pay the electricity bill for a Brit trying to manage his COPD through the use of an oxygenator. The 24 hour need to use the breathing machine had put a strain on his fixed income. He risked severe health consequences if he didn’t have help to breath. Another applicant, an 84 year old widower in Arizona, had found himself on very hard times since the passing of his wife. The BBS was able to provide urgent assistance and pay his water and electricity bills before each of these utilities were cut off. The Consulate in Los Angeles is working on this case to help him find longer term support.
We received the following thank you note from a Covid19 Grant recipient:
‘I received the money and was able to pay my rent, thanks to the kindness and generosity of you and the BBS. I really cannot thank you enough, but please know how truly grateful I am.’
-Charlotte
The BBS Relief Committee has approved $14,000 in relief since the start of 2021. We continue to receive requests for assistance on a regular basis. We are hopeful that we can continue to reach and help those who have fallen on hard times-which have been made more difficult because of the pandemic.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Happy Hour
Friday 26 March
Monthly Virtual Happy Hour
Details
This event is free for anyone and will take place from 5-6 on the last Friday of each month.
Registration
Registration is required in order to receive event Zoom link. If you have any questions about the registration, please contact us.
Register Here Today
Great British Bake Off
Saturday 3 April
Great British Virtual Bake Off
Time
3PM
Details
This will be a family event and we encourage you to enlist everyone in your house! Be sure to watch our video and learn more about this fun event.
Baking will take place prior to the Zoom but that doesn’t mean that you will not have to prepare in order to show off your skills. Though planning for the event is still taking place, it isn’t too early for you to think about what you want to bake.
Options include cakes, biscuits, or buns.
Check out the event page for more information.
Register Here Today
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 19 October
Annual General Meeting
Please mark this date for our annual meeting.
Great British-American Pub Quiz
A big thank you from Jo Healy and everyone at the BBS to those who joined our first pub quiz of 2021. It was so much fun to see all of you. We really appreciate your support for the BBS and the BABC.
A big thank you to Peter Brook for his amazing questions and quiz skills. As usual, it was so much fun.
Hope to see you all at our next quiz!
Partner Events
Whiskey Wednesday’s
This monty they will be highlighting the difference in whisky production with tasting notes lead by Rory Glasgow of GlenDronach.
NOTE: This month will be an offering of whisky with chocolate to pair the contrasting tastes at a later time this month of 8pm.
Expressions: GlenDronach 12, GlenDronach 15, GlenDronach 18, GlenDronach 21. Kits will include 1oz scotch samples as well as chocolates.
Whisky tasting tickets will be available till March 4th at the latest so we can make sure we have the best chance for it arriving at your address in time. After then observer tickets will still be available.
*4 March is the last day to place your order!
For more information and registration visit the Eventbrite page.
Who We Are & How We Help
In 2020 the BBS provided just under $130,000 in aid including forty three $1,500 Covid19 Grants. This pandemic still ravages through communities throughout the world and we continue to deliver immediate assistance to British nationals who simply have no where else to turn.
Please help us continue to spread the word about the BBS. If you are in a position to make a donation, the time is now.
Donations
Did you know that you need to reset your AmazonSmile charity of choice every six months? By designating the BBS as your preferred charity on AmazonSmile you are making a simple and easy donation!