For thirteen years, advanced grief recovery specialist and founder Gina Spence Virgil has carried the same mission into Bermuda’s communities: to meet people where they are, in their grief, their hardship, and their need—and to do it with dignity, compassion, and care.
What began humbly on Court Street—just a few volunteers walking into local bars and clubs collecting small donations in a simple bag—has grown into one of the island’s most impactful holiday initiatives. In those early days, the team purchased whatever food hampers they could manage from the funds they collected. But with time, commitment, and growing community trust, the effort has transformed into a full-fledged campaign now known islandwide as The Gift of Giving.
Today, the Christmas hamper drive provides groceries, medicine gift cards, and toys to hundreds of seniors, children, and families across Bermuda. Major community partners have helped expand the mission far beyond its grassroots beginning. BGA now supports the drive by supplying full grocery bags for 200 families. The Phoenix Pharmacy provides gift cards so seniors can purchase necessary medications. The Bermuda Post Office has also stepped in, opening its doors for the public to donate brand-new or gently used toys—and its staff personally contributes toys as well.
“We’ve evolved into a full-fledged campaign,” says Spence-Virgil. “And the need keeps growing. Every year, it gets greater.”
As a grief recovery specialist, Gina sees more than financial strain—she sees the emotional weight hidden beneath it. When families register on the website, they’re asked a simple but telling question: Have you had any loss in the past 90 days? The responses paint a sobering picture of life for many Bermudians.
Families report losses of every kind—divorce, terminal illness, Alzheimer’s caregiving stress, job loss, home displacement, even multiple losses at once. Some register for a hamper, but what they truly need is counseling. “Sometimes the gift brings them in the room,” Gina shares. “We can meet their basic needs, but also their clinical needs when it comes to grief and loss.”
As of the registration cut-off last Friday December 5th, 412 applicants—seniors, families, and children—have already requested support. And more will undoubtedly show up on distribution day, many without phones or internet access, unable to register online but still very much in need. The team’s goal is unwavering: turn no one away.
The donation window has been extended to the end of December to meet the high demand and eliminate waiting lists. “We work with families all year round,” Gina explains. “As donations come in—even after Christmas—we continue to support seniors, children, and those in crisis.”
The vetting process is strict, preventing any duplication of services. Each applicant completes a detailed form with specific required responses, ensuring no one receives more than their share. The point, however, is not to distrust—it is to ensure that every legitimate need is met.
Gina speaks openly about Bermuda’s growing challenges: underinsurance, medical vulnerability, and the increasing number of residents who simply cannot afford fundamental needs. According to recent data collected by her foundation, 21,000 people in Bermuda are uninsured or underinsured—many of them working full-time jobs that do not provide adequate coverage. The emotional, physical, and financial toll is immense.
“One family member gets sick,” Gina says, “and people can lose everything. Their whole life can change overnight. A bike accident. A stroke. Alzheimer’s. These are real experiences, and they can impact the whole household.”
And yet, Bermuda remains one of the richest countries in the world. “So why,” she asks, “are so many working-class people unable to make it?” Recent local surveys show that 60% of Bermudians cite housing, healthcare, and food costs as their greatest stressors.
Perhaps this is why Gina’s annual drive resonates so deeply: it meets people in their vulnerability and acknowledges their humanity.
This Saturday December 13th, at the Heritage Worship Center from 12–2 p.m., the community will gather for the culminating event—a celebration of generosity, resilience, and hope. There will be live entertainment, kiddie rides, and festive activities designed to make pick-up day feel joyful rather than heavy. “It takes a lot to ask for help,” Gina reminds us. “We consider it a privilege when people trust us enough to come.”
The fundraising goal is $75,000, which will provide 300 toys, 200 hampers, and 100 senior gift cards. They are halfway there. Gina asks each Bermuda household to give what they can—“even just $25,” she says. “Not per person, but per household. Five people giving $5 each can change a family’s Christmas.”
For international businesses seeking an impactful local charity to support, the call is clear: this campaign touches seniors, families, and children—those who need help most.
Grief may be the speciality, but compassion is the engine. “The food may bring them in the room, the toy may bring them in the room,” Gina says, “but what we really want to know is: What is your loss? What are you grieving?”
This Christmas, many families will face an empty chair at the table—a first holiday without someone they love. Gina Spence Virgil and her team hope to offer not just food or toys, but comfort, counsel, and community to carry them through.
Because the Gift of Giving is not just about Christmas.
It is about healing.
It is about dignity.
It is about Bermuda taking care of Bermuda.
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