FOOD FOR THE POOR BRINGS GLEE TO GRANTS MOUNTAIN WITH GIFT OF NEW SCHOOL

Donor representatives of 'Friends of Jamaica', Jef and Eileen Christian and their children, display the thank you cards which were made for them by the students of Grants Mountain Basic School. Dorothy Berrick, Principal of the school, who made the presentation on behalf of the students, shares in a camera moment with the Christian family and her students. 

Food For The Poor Opens 13^th Basic School Under Its Jamaica 50 Programme

Grants Mountain, St. Ann - June 20, 2013: After struggling with a less than desirable learning environment for over 10 years, the Grants Mountain Basic School in St. Ann now has a new home. Food For The Poor (FFP) brought glee to the Grants Mountain community today with the official opening of the new school.

This early childhood education institution is the second to be constructed and opened in St. Ann within a month by the charity, under its FFPJamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence. 

The new facility comprises three classrooms, a sickbay, office, kitchen, and sanitation area. It has a population of 25 students, but can accommodate up to 100 students, and the teaching staff is expecting an increase in the number of student. Recounting that the community was troubled by the absence of perimeter fencing and adequate bathroom facilities, at the old school, Dorothy Berrrick, Principal stated, “We are confident that more parents will send their children to the new school, because of the very secure, modern and appealing school which we now enjoy, thanks to ‘Friends of Jamaica’ and Food For The Poor,” She pointed out that the community is overjoyed at the new facilities.

Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, told participants in the opening ceremony that the charity is pleased to give the children of Grants Mountain – in the three to six year old age group, an opportunity to gain quality education in a spacious, comfortable learning environment. “We are happy that we could build the community a new early childhood institution to alleviate your concerns over the insufficient spacing, inconvenient environment and inadequate sanitation facilities at the old church building, which has served as the home for the basic school,” said Mrs. Johnson.

She expressed the hope that the new building will facilitate another generation of dedicated service by the teachers to the children of the community. The FFPJ Executive Director extended appreciation to all the donors and partners who have been assisting with the Jamaica 50 Campaign, while singling out the US-based ‘Friends of Jamaica’ for their generous donations for the construction of the Grants Mountain and the Agape Basic Schools. “You have certainly been of great assistance in helping to transform the dreams of the Grants Mountain community and its environs,” Mrs. Johnson remarked.

She also applauded the role that the Florida-based FFP Inc. and Grants Mountain Primary played in making the project a reality. The Grants Mountain Primary School has allowed the new basic school to be constructed on its property.

The FFP Executive Director outlined that among other child-centred initiatives being implemented by FFP is the Angels of Hope (AOH) Programme which supports 21 children's homes in Jamaica with a regular supply of clothing, food, school and medical supplies, furniture, and financial donations; as the need arises. Outside of the AOH Programme, FFP provides food for school feeding programmes islandwide.  “To date, approximately 4, 200 schools fall under this programme with over 150, 000 students benefiting,” Mrs. Johnson announced.  “Many schools have reported to us that as a result of this programme, there is increased attendance; better student performance and many students are displaying a greater attention span in classes.”

The Most Rev. Bishop Burchell McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay and Board Director of Food For The Poor Inc. pledged his organization’s continued efforts in implementing development projects for needy Jamaicans. He urged citizens to give their prayerful and other support to the charity. The Bishop also did the blessing/dedication of the new school.

Eileen Christian, Donor Representative, ‘Friends of Jamaica’ expressed satisfaction that her family and friends were given an opportunity to make the basic school a reality for the people of Grants Mountain. The school presented the family of Eileen Christian with two large thank you cards made by the students.

Karian Hamilton, Development Officer, Early Childhood Commission (ECC), has expressed delight at the new Grants Mountain Basic School. Deeming the new facility, a “safe, nurturing environment” and commending the teachers on their availing themselves of improved training, Mrs. Hamilton expressed optimism, “I know you will find that the quality of the programme will improve and the children who leave here will excel.” She is of the view that the new facility will assist the school in complying with most of the ECC guidelines with regard to the equipment, physical learning environment and sanitation. She added, “With this help from Food For The Poor, Gants Mountain Basic School will more likely be among the first (early childhood education institutions) to receive certification of registration from the Early Childhood Commission.” 

Among those delivering remarks at today’s event were: Keith Walford, Member of Parliament, St. Ann South Western and Joy Cover, Senior Teacher, Grants Mountain Primary School. The students from the community’s primary and basic schools provided entertainment.

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Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. 

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ST. THOMAS BENEFITS FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA 50 PROGRAMME

 

‘TINY TOTS’ EXPLORE COMPUTERS:  Students of the Agape Basic School in Seaforth, St. Thomas explore their new computers under the guidance of Desmond King, Social Outreach Officer, Food For The Poor (FFP). The computers were donated by FFP during the official opening of the Agape Basic School on Tuesday, June 18. Participating in the official opening are (from left): Jef and Eileen Christian, Donor representatives; Jean Lowrie-Chin, Board Director, FFP; and Mitzie Dennis, Principal, Agape Basic School. This is the first early childhood institution in St. Thomas and the twelfth school erected during the 12-month existence of the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence.  Food For The Poor built the school with financing from the family and friends of Eileen Christian.

UNVEILING AGAPE: (From right) Susan James Casserley, Projects Manager, Food For The Poor Inc.; Donor representatives Jef Christian and his children Chrissy and Kelly; and Clarence Bedassie, Board Chairman, Agape Basic School, unveil the commemorative sign at the school. They were playing a key role in the official opening of Agape Basic School on Tuesday, June 18. The institution is the first school in St. Thomas and the twelfth to be erected during the 12-month existence of the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence.  Food For The Poor constructed the school with financing from the family and friends of Eileen Christian.

Food For The Poor Opens 12^th Basic School In 12 Months

Seaforth, St. Thomas - June 18, 2013: Seaforth in St. Thomas today became a proud beneficiary of the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence. Food For The Poor today officially opened the new Agape Basic School in the community, which is the first early childhood school in St. Thomas and the twelfth institution erected during the Project’s 12-month existence.

The Seaforth community had a dire need for this basic school, which had its wooden structure razed by fire just over a year ago. Since then, the teachers and students have been sharing facilities with the Seaforth Seventh Day Church of God.  With the opening of the new school the over 60 students and teachers now have three comfortable classrooms, kitchen, bathroom facilities, office, sickbay and veranda. The school will serve not only Seaforth, but also the neighbouring communities of Trinity Ville, White Hall and Danvers’ Pen.

Addressing participants at the official opening, Jean Lowrie-Chin, FFP Board Director announced that the school would benefit from another major donation: “We at Food For The Poor are helping to ensure that the children are engaged at an early age, in the use of technology as a learning aid. To this end, we will today be donating N-Computer Kits to the Agape Basic School. The Kits comprise six computer monitors and a Central Processing Unit (CPU).”

Mrs. Lowrie-Chin explained that the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme has so far been “an exciting and rewarding journey” for the charity. She declared that the FFP team has been heartened by the positive difference, which the schools have been making islandwide. Mrs. Lowrie-Chin noted, “Now, a year later on this journey, Food For The Poor has built 12 early childhood institutions in 12 months with this Agape Basic School being the 12^th – a flying start to the Jamaica 50 Project!”

The FFP Board Director emphasised that by facilitating and enhancing quality early childhood education for our youngsters, FFP is providing a quality start to the learning cycle of our children.

She expressed appreciation to the Early Childhood Commission, as well as the donors who have partnered with FFP since the project began a year ago. The US-based Eileen Christian, her family and friends, who financed the construction of Agape Basic School, also came in for special mention and commendation from Mrs. Lowrie-Chin. She also thanked the Seventh Day Church of God for its generosity in providing temporary accommodation for the school for over 12 months.

Eileen Christian, Donor Representative and Attorney-at-law, who delivered the keynote address said that the ‘Agape Friends Initiative ‘ was started by her colleagues, Mike and Tracey Moyer. She expressed pleasure that her family and friends had the opportunity to share their resources with Jamaicans who are in need of assistance. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing yourself with us and with our children,” declared Mrs. Christian, whose husband Jeff, and two children, also participated in the opening ceremony. She commented on her family’s motivation to assist Jamaicans: “We are all children of God and we wanted to dignify your children of God by honouring them with a school that honours them.” 

Remarking that her children are raised with the blessings that the United States of America have to offer, “but a lack of heroes”, Mrs. Christian said that by donating to the construction of a school, she wanted to teach her children that the real heroes are persons who make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Mitzie Dennis, Principal, Agape Basic School, said she is overjoyed and appreciative of the new facilities. “The new school is much more comfortable and conducive to learning than our situation at the church and even better than the old school that existed before we were accommodated by church,” said Ms. Dennis who has been a member of the teaching staff for the last eight years.  The Principal added, “ We want to say a very big thank you to Food for the Poor and the family of Eileen Christian for making our dreams come true.”

Expressions of gratitude for the new building came from Her Worship The Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Marsha Francis; and Joan Spencer, Parish Councillor for the Seaforth Division, who represented James Robertson, the Member of Parliament for Western St. Thomas. They both urged the Seaforth Community to take the best care of the facilities. “As Mayor of this parish I am so pleased to see the support given to this parish by Food For The Poor,” stated the Mayor Francis.

Among other persons playing a key role in the event were: Susan James-Casserley, Projects Manager, Food For The Poor Inc., Marcus Irons, Project Coordinator, Food For The Poor Jamaica; Yvonne Edmondson, Development Officer, Early Childhood Commission – Zone 10; Clarence Bedassie, School Board Chairman; Deacons Henry Williams and Gerald Graham, Seaforth Church of God Seventh Day. The students did renditions of cultural pieces.

Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact:               

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886

Photos of Food For The Poor Jamaica at Garden Wood Basic School

Sharon Thomas (3^rd left), Principal, Garden Wood Basic School and Pastor Victor Peña (4^th right), Donor Representative, Destiny City Fellowship Church of United States of America cut the ribbon, signalling theofficial opening of the Garden Wood Basic School on Wednesday, June 12. Cheering on the ribbon cutters are:  students of the basic school (centre) Jacqueline Johnson (3^rd right), Executive Director, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ); (from left)  Marcia Walker, Social Outreach Manager, FFPJ, PastorsDexter Dennis and Lansley Blake, school board representatives; and Claudette Grant, Secretary to the President of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. The school was constructed under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme which aims to build 50 and or upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence. Garden Wood Basic is the first school to be built in Clarendon under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme.

Pastor Dexter Dennis (left), school board representative, Garden Wood Basic School expresses gratitude to Food For The Poor and Destiny City Fellowship Church of the United States for building the new school. He is conveying his sentiments to Jacqueline Johnson (right), Executive Director, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and Pastor Victor Peña, Donor Representative , Destiny City Fellowship Church of United States of America. Garden Wood Basic is the first school to be built in Clarendon under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme, which aims to build 50 and or upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence.

GARDEN WOOD ‘BLOOMS’ WITH NEW FOOD FOR THE POOR EDUCATION FACILITY

(From right) Pastor Victor Peña, Donor Representative, Destiny City Fellowship Church of  Virginia, United States of America; Marcia Walker, Social Outreach Manager, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ); and Sharon Thomas, Principal, Garden Wood Basic School unveil the school sign at the new early childhood institution. They were participating in the official opening of the Garden Wood Basic School on Wednesday, June 12.   The school was constructed under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme which aims to build 50 and or upgrade 50 basic schools in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence.

Garden Wood, Clarendon- June 12, 2013: A new chapter began today in the life of the north-central Clarendon farming community of Garden Wood, with the official opening of the only educational institution in the community - the new Garden Wood Basic School.It was constructed by Food For The Poor (FFP) and financed byDestiny City Fellowship Church, Virginia, United States of America.

This is the first early childhood education institution to be built in Clarendon under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of Independence.Garden Wood Basic School is the eleventh early childhood school to be constructed / upgraded under the Programme.

Addressing participants at today’s official opening, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, announced that during this month alone the charity would be officially opening four early childhood institutions, built under the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign. She added, “By the end of June, we will officially open a total of 14 basic schools, constructed islandwide, since the Programme began 12 months ago.” 

The Garden Wood Basic School was officially opened, one day shy of one year since FFP launched its biggest initiative to support early childhood education development in Jamaica - the Food For The Poor Jamaica 50 Campaign. The project was set in motion at High House District, St. Catherine on June 13, 2012.

Since the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the community established the Garden Wood Basic School, it has been housed at the Church. The facility however proved challenging in terms of spacing, infrastructure for classrooms and the overall learning environment. The new school building constructed by FFP, boasts three beautifully decorated classrooms, kitchen, bathroom facilities, office, sickbay and veranda. The classrooms will also be equipped with colourful, child-friendly furniture.

“This new building and equipment will assist Garden Wood Basic in meeting many of the standards of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) as it relates to the physical environment, equipment, furnishing, health and nutrition. However, the school has other needs, which you can help to address,” said Mrs. Johnson. “We are appealing to citizens and organizations to help the school in financing the advanced training of its staff, and the erection of a perimeter fence. The school also needs the input of the community in helping to streamline its programmes and policies.”

The FFPJ Executive Director explained that such improvements are necessary, in aiding Garden Wood Basic School to meet the requirements of the ECC. Mrs. Johnson called upon the teachers, parents and community to form an ongoing partnership to help maximize the potential of all children who attend and those who will attend the Garden Wood Basic School. She impressed on the residents that the children need their attentive care, guidance and positive mentorship.

Mrs. Johnson underscored that Food For The Poor views its investment in pre-primary education as being of utmost importance in grooming youngsters for future success in academia and life skills. The FFPJ Executive Director expressed appreciation to all those who have been supporting the Jamaica 50 initiative, making special mention of the members of the Destiny City Fellowship Church.

Sharon Thomas, Principal, Garden Wood Basic School, expressed appreciation to FFP and the USA based donor for the construction and equipping of the new school. “I am so grateful and so happy. Words cannot explain how I feel with this gift of a school to the community!” exclaimed Ms. Thomas. She said the kitchen at the new school will now allow for the institution to provide cooked meals for the students, which was not possible while they were housed at the church.

The Principal recounted that many times she had to move teaching aids to facilitate worship, funerals and other events at the church. She is relieved that this will no longer be the case, and praised the new school as a “more appropriate and convenient learning environment for the children.”  Ms. Thomas expressed confidence that the improved facilities at the new school will encourage more parents from Garden Wood and its environs to send their children between 3 and 6 years old to the school.

Donor Representative, Pastor Victor Peña, Destiny City Fellowship Church, revealed in his keynote address that it took his congregation two-and-a-half years to raise the funds to finance the construction of the school, but they remained committed to the cause. Assuring the audience that “God is willing to build lives, not destroy it”, Pastor Peña declared that God had a special plan for the children and adults of the community. He presented the school with a gift of a large bible.

Pearnel Charles, Member of Parliament, North Central Clarendon, who lauded the efforts of FFP in school construction and social outreach programmes, challenged the residents to show their gratitude for the gift of the school, by taking the best care of the new facilities. “We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we appreciate what they have done. We must show our appreciation through protection and respect,” Mr. Charles urged. He appealed to parents to commit to the education of their children and their families, as education is the key to many of the ills facing Jamaica, including being a deterrent to criminality.

Among those delivering remarks at today’s event were: Pastors Dexter Dennis and Lansley Blake, school board representatives; and Pastor Wayne Palmer, Education Director, Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. The students and a parent entertained with cultural items.

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Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largestinternational relief and development organization in the United States. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact:               

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886

Food For The Poor - Jamaica celebrates 30 Years of Serving the Poor! - Advertorial

MEDIA COVERAGE REQUEST

MEDIA COVERAGE REQUEST

TO:                      News, Photo & Education Editors; Reporters & Rural Correspondents                      

EVENT:               Official Opening of the Gordon Wood Basic

School

VENUE:               Gordon Wood Basic School,

Gordon Wood District, Clarendon

(NB: Gordon Wood is about 10 miles from May Pen, located in North Central Clarendon between the communities of Moores and Rock River.)

 

DATE:                 Wednesday, June 12, 2013

TIME:                  1pm

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:      

Mr. Andrew Mahfood

         Chairman

         Food For The Poor Jamaica

                       

                                    Pastor Victor Pena

                            Destiny City Fellowship Church

                            Virginia, US

BACKGROUND: The Gordon Wood Basic School is one of

the schools built under the Food For The PoorJamaica 50 Campaign, in

commemoration of Jamaica’s Golden Jubilee. Under this Campaign, FFP will build and

or upgrade 50 Basic Schools over 50 months.

_______________________________________________________

Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886

FOOD FOR THE POOR CELEBRATES THREE DECADES OF SERVING THE POOR

PRIZE CATCH AT A FOOD FOR THE POOR FISHING VILLAGE: A fisherman proudly displays his catch at Gordon's Fishing Village in Bluefields, Jamaica. This Fishing Village is one of the recipients of assistance under the Food For The Poor Fishing Village Projects.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOOD FOR THE POOR : Andrew Mahfood (left), Chairman, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ), cuts the Food For The Poor 30^th Anniversary Cake with the two longest serving members of the charity.  Audrey Stanton  (centre) and Burchell Hutchinson have been with FFPJ for 25 years. The Anniversary cake cutting exercise took place at FFPJ’s  Spanish Town Office  on Thursday afternoon, June 6, 2013.

Spanish Town, Jamaica - June 7, 2013: As it celebrates its 30^thAnniversary today, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) is renewing its commitment to continue to serve the economically and socially challenged in Jamaica. Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, FFPJ, says that by providing citizens with basic necessities, skills training and assisting with the development of income-generating activities, FFPJ has been realizing its mandate of encouraging sustainable development among Jamaicans.

                           

“We have been delighted to serve the poorest of the poor in Jamaica. Lending a helping hand to empower others is our main inspiration at Food For The Poor,” Mr. Mahfood asserts. “We will continue to do so through the provision of shelter, clothing, food, skills training, agricultural and emergency relief programmes, as well as micro-enterprise development.”

During the past three decades, FFPJ has grown phenomenally from a small feeding programme in Kingston, to the largest international relief organization in Jamaica.

The FFPJ Chairman is commending the donors for fuelling this growth, “We are very appreciative to our donors, as without their help, we would not be able to implement our programmes. More than 95 percent of all donations go directly to programmes that help the poor.”

Robin Mahfood, President / CEO of Food For The Poor Inc. shares similar sentiments. He expresses confidence that Food For The Poor continues to serve as a ray of hope to the island’s destitute, through the assistance of donors and the charity’s dedicated team of workers and volunteers. “Food For The Poor’s donors continue to achieve amazing transformation for the poor, but the needs are immense,” says Mr. Robin Mahfood. “We are asking for everyone’s help to continue giving what they can to prevent more suffering and improve our charity’s ability to get food and other critical supplies to those who need them the most.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Mahfood today announced that the FFPJ Jamaica 50 Campaign, which was launched in June last year, in celebration of Jamaica’s 50^th year of Independence, is on track to complete 15 schools in 12 months.  “During this month, we will be officially opening four early childhood institutions constructed under the FFPJ Jamaica 50 Campaign.” The FFPJ Campaign aims to build and or upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide in 50 months.

Recipient school communities have been elated at the intervention of FFPJ. The views of Rosalyn Gayle, Principal, High House Basic School, is reflective of the views of those school communities, which have benefited from the FFP Jamaica 50 Campaign. Mrs. Gayle is expressing appreciation to Food For The Poor on behalf of the school community for the new school, provided under the Jamaica 50 Programme. She says since the new school was opened in February this year, “it is a special treasure in the community and many parents who did not want to send their children to the old, dilapidated school are now sending their young ones to the new school.” The new High House Basic School comprisesthree classrooms, a sickbay, an office for the teachers, kitchen and bathrooms, and has the capacity to accommodate 100 children.

The FFPJ Chairman discloses that since the inception of the charity, it has built 33,862 housing units in Jamaica for needy persons, with 1,172 of that number being built last year.   In the area of agriculture, FFPJ has been assisting small farmers and institutions to become more self-reliant.  The organization has provided planting material, technical expertise and assisted with the development of marketing programmes for hundreds of farmers. This approach in empowering farmers has been done through FFP’s Rural Economic Agricultural Programme (REAP) and the EU-funded Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes.

On the matter of health care, FFPJ provides health care items to hospitals, health centres, infirmaries and nursing homes. The donations are comprised of beds, wheelchairs, surgical equipment, ambulances, and pharmaceuticals. For 2012, FFPJ distributed health care supplies valued at J$3.1 billion to public health facilities, non-governmental organizations, infirmaries and schools. In February alone this year, the charity provided the Ministry of Health with 200 wheelchairs, 40 hospital beds, several operating theatre lights, stretchers and sofas; for use in its hospitals and health centres. “In our thrust to assist in enhancing public health and improving patient care in Jamaica, FFPJ also runs several annual health fairs which provide free medical and dental services,” Mr. Mahfood points out.

He provides an update on some of the other sustainable activities, which FFPJ is fostering among communities: “We continue to assist fishermen in 16 Food For The Poor Fishing Village Projects throughout the island. We have trained them in environmentally sound fishing techniques, so that they will become more productive.” The charity has also provided fishermen with boats, equipment, gear sheds, cold storage facilities, housing, food, and furniture.

As part of its 30^th Anniversary celebrations, FFPJ will today (Friday, June 7) celebrate with the fishermen at the Manchioneal Fishing Village in Portland. This Fishing Village has been a beneficiary over the years, of the FFPJ Fishing Village Project.

Other highlights of FFPJ’s programmes to assist the less fortunate include:

• Providing life-saving emergency aid to survivors of natural disasters. By having an established network of resources throughout the island, FFPJ can offer emergency aid quickly and effectively.

• Assisting with fruit tree planting projects, and animal husbandry, which provide food and income, thereby helping to create self-sustaining communities.
• Constructing training centres and clinics.
• Providing economic and social support to children’s homes and homes for the elderly
• Offering educational grants and school supplies to needy students
• Providing schools with furniture
• Providing clean water to residents

-End-

Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com

_________________________________________________________________________

Contact:

Erica James-King|PROComm l  (876) 564-5277 or (876) 926-6740

Erica.James-King@procomm.com.jm

Petri-Ann Henry | Food For The Poor Jamaica I (876) 564-2886 or (876) 907-3664 |

petri-annh@foodforthepoorja.org

Food For The Poor provides medical assistance in Maroon Town

Volunteer Dentist, Dr. Dean Weatherly (left) and Dental Assistant, Winsome Chambers (right) provide dental care to a St. James resident at the sixth staging of the Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica Annual Health Fair in western Jamaica.  The event was held at the Maroon Town Health Centre in St. James on Wednesday, May 29.  Other services provided, at no cost to residents, included medical examinations, foot care, reflexology treatment, pap smears and nutritional counselling. Representatives of the Registrar General Department, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, St. James Public Health Department and Social Development Commission were also present to provide information and services to the public.  Some 300 persons benefited from the health fair, which was organized by FFP’s Western Committee. 

Dr. Paul Robinson (left) was among the team of medical personnel who volunteered their time and expertise at the sixth stating of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica Annual Health Fair in the west.  This year’s event was held at the Maroon Town Health Centre in  St. James on Wednesday, May 29.    Approximately 300 residents, including children, benefited from various health care services including dental and medical examinations, foot care, reflexology treatment, pap smears and nutritional counseling.  Representatives of the Registrar’s General Department, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, St. James Public Health Department and Social Development Commission were also present to provide information and services to the public.  The event was organized by FFP’s Western Committee, which was established in 2003 to adequately determine the needs of the poor in the western region.