A cherished piece of Bermuda’s heritage will go under the hammer as part of a fundraising campaign aimed at improving the lives of seniors at Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home.
The Orange Bay Company, a second-hand clothing and goods retailer, has officially partnered with the “A Life Well Lived” campaign to raise $35,000 in support of wellness initiatives for Westmeath residents. The campaign runs until May 15 and seeks to fund upgrades to the care home, as well as essential services and amenities such as mobility aids, outdoor gardening, community outings, music therapy, and bedding replacements.
A key feature of the campaign is the silent auction of a rare Bermuda cedar chest, discovered during a recent attic clearance at Westmeath. The chest, believed to date back to the early 1700s, is being showcased at Orange Bay Company and is open for bids via email until the campaign concludes.
Delight Morris, founder of Orange Bay Company, described the collaboration as a natural extension of the company’s values. “As a company rooted in meaningful spaces and thoughtful legacy, this partnership makes perfect sense for us,” said Ms. Morris. “Orange Bay has always believed that beauty, purpose and care should extend into every part of our lives, including where we honour and support our elders. Westmeath has been doing the quiet, dignified work of care for decades. This campaign helps uplift that work.”
Natalie Chaves, chairwoman of the board at Westmeath, expressed gratitude for the support.
“We are deeply appreciative of Orange Bay Company for sponsoring this resident wellness-focused fundraising campaign,” she said. “What began as a humble request to Delight Morris to help clear out Westmeath’s attic led to the discovery of a cedar chest. It quickly became clear that this was something special, and from that moment the campaign began to take shape.”
She added: “Often, Bermuda’s seniors are overlooked when it comes to giving, but how we treat them truly reflects who we are as a community.”
Antique dealer Andrea Casling highlighted the historical significance of the chest.
“This exquisite antique Bermuda cedar chest is so very Bermudian, with its onion feet, detailed dovetailing, and scalloped apron replicating the roll of our ocean,” she said. “It is a treasure, as are our fabulous elders.”
Multiple sponsorship packages are available for donors wishing to support the initiative. Bids for the cedar chest can be submitted via email to [email protected] until May 15.
The campaign encourages community members to honour Bermuda’s elders by funding meaningful improvements to their daily lives.
