Ernst & Young Ltd. teamed up with Cayman ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) to help make the holiday season a little brighter. The professional services firm organised a food drive on December 14 for the local charity to assist families in need.

Employees at Ernst & Young Ltd. filled 82 shopping bags with non-perishable grocery items for ARK’s 2011 “Giving is Receiving” holiday program, as well as donating numerous toys. In turn, the firm matched each shopping bag collected by staff with grocery gift certificates of equal value.

“ARK relies heavily on contributions from Cayman’s banking and financial services industry and, together with other extremely generous firms, Ernst & Young continually gives back to the local community,” said Alison Lomax, a volunteer with ARK. “In total, we distributed shopping bags to more than 250 families for Christmas 2011. The past year was a particularly tough one for many, and corporate citizens like Ernst & Young really make a difference.”

This was the second year Ernst & Young participated in the ARK Christmas program. “Everyone on staff gave generously,” said Ernst & Young Ltd. Managing Partner Dan Scott, noting the firm also participates in ARK’s ongoing Volunteer Program. “We encourage our employees to be involved in their community, and we thank organizations such as ARK for taking the lead in helping those in need.”

Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with a global presence in more than 140 countries.