The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, Americas Priory, West Indies Commandery presented donations of $11,000 each this week to The PACE Foundation and The Salvation Army of The Bahamas, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to humanitarian service and support for vulnerable communities throughout The Bahamas.

Both beneficiaries called the donations and their timing critical, thanking representatives of one of the oldest humanitarian associations in the world.

“This means the world to us,” said PACE Foundation President Claudette Rolle. “These funds will help us complete the roof and any funds left will allow us to create an outdoor space, to put in a pavilion for the girls to enjoy the fresh air and outdoors.” Some 22 pregnant teens or young mothers are currently benefitting from the program that allows them to finish their secondary education. After years of operating on the upper floor of a church, in 2017 PACE supporters purchased a rundown residence on East Street and began renovating and repairing. Today, that space is a welcome haven for young females able to find support and strength, complete their high school education and obtain soft and trade skills training, increasing the chances of brighter futures for them and their child.    

The donations are the result of fundraising efforts associated with the West Indies Commandery’s 2026 Investiture Ceremony, held in Nassau in May, and reflect the generosity of members, sponsors, partners, and supporters who contributed to the success of the event, according to Owen Bethel, KJSJ, Commander of the West Indies Commandery.

“The Order of Saint John has always been guided by a commitment to care for the sick, the poor, and the vulnerable,” Mr. Bethel said. “We are pleased to support the important work of The PACE Foundation and The Salvation Army of The Bahamas, two organizations that continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families across our country. These donations are a testament to what can be achieved through partnership, generosity, and a shared commitment to serving others.”

Among its strongest partners for both donations was the Rotary Club of Nassau, Sunrise and both past and newly elected presidents Karen Pinder and Patrick Newman were present for the emotional donations.

While PACE empowers pregnant and parenting teens, The Salvation Army provides a wide range of social services, including food assistance, emergency relief, family support, and outreach programmes assisting many of the nation’s most vulnerable residents.

And the donation to The Salvation Army less than 48 hours before Divisional Commander Major Roodolph Meo and Major Aldene Meo were set to relinquish the posts they held for more than five years, keeping hope alive following the COVID pandemic and the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, left some in the room fighting tears as cameras clicked.

“This donation is vital to the mission of The Salvation Army,” said Major Roodolph Meo. “We do not have a lot of fund-raising, but we have a lot of needs. When it comes to Christmas we own your ears, but that carries us through the holidays as it is intended to do with 55 to 60 percent of what we raise being used during that period so people do not go hungry or feel forgotten and alone.

“The rest of the year, we struggle. We have to find ways to support the women’s and children’s shelter, food parcel distribution, the mop shop, the Centre for the Blind. Sometimes we help with an electricity bill or some of the rent or if we have to keep someone safe, a hotel.”

Behind the better-known initiatives like the mop shop providing employment for the visually challenged, The Salvation Army is a silent partner working closely with law enforcement in the war against human trafficking.

Major Meo shakes his head, an expression of sympathetic despair, as he describes how great the need for a larger shelter is.  

The current shelter is often too full to take another victim, he explains, and has to turn away a woman and child pleading for help. Heartbreaking cases like that drive both he and his wife to search for a safe hideaway for the woman who cannot take another beating or stand by as her child is abused.  

The Divisional Commander said The Army touches an average of 85 to 120 lives daily and helps feed and clothe between 1200 and 1500 individuals in need every month.  

Along with the Order of Saint John and the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, partners and supporters who made the $22,000 donation possible include Dr. Alfred Anduze, CJSJ; Dame Natalie Bethel, DGSJ; Mrs. Rubie Nottage; Mr. Felix Stubbs, CGSJ, who also serves as Chairman, The Salvation Army; and Mr. Owen Bethel, KJSJ as Individual Sponsors; Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium as a Community Partner; and Dame Ivylyn Cassar, DSJ, New Providence Ecology Park, and Inti Corporation as Gold Sponsors.

Rooted in a tradition of service dating back to the 11th century, the Order of Saint John supports initiatives that promote health, social care, community resilience, and volunteerism throughout the region.

About the Order of Saint John

The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, is one of the oldest Orders of Chivalry, founded in Jerusalem in the late 11th century. Nearly 1,000 years later, it continues to operate globally as a charitable organization dedicated to humanitarian service, health care, and community support. Through the West Indies Commandery, the Order advances these values in service to Caribbean communities, guided by compassion, integrity, and a commitment to strengthening regional well-being.

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