FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA & FLORIDA-BASED PASTOR GIVE 40 HOUSES TO NEEDY RESIDENTS IN ST ELIZABETH

FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA & FLORIDA-BASED PASTOR GIVE 40 HOUSES TO NEEDY RESIDENTS IN ST ELIZABETH

Kingston, Jamaica – September 11, 2014: Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica in collaboration with Father Anthony Palazzolo, a Florida-based pastor, handed over 40 houses to needy residents living in St Elizabeth on September 10.

These houses, which were in recent months built in a geographical location that was renamed ‘The Father Tony’s Faith Village’, were constructed for individuals and families living in the parish without proper houses.

The handing over and renaming ceremony of the houses took place on the compound of Fullerswood All Age School in Arlington, St Elizabeth, which is located near to twelve of the houses built from the collaboration.

Present at the handing over of the houses were: Mr Hugh Buchanan, Member of Parliament for South West, St Elizabeth; Mr David Mair, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica and Father Palazzolo.

In his address, Mr Buchanan, expressed gratitude on behalf of the recipients to members of FFP and Father Palazzolo for donating 40 houses to members of his constituency.

“When you decide to serve and make sacrifices, it is not easy. To have been able to provide St Elizabeth with 40 houses, one dozen of which are located here in Arlington, to persons who would not be able to own a home, is a great achievement. And so, I believe it is fitting to pay tribute to Father Tony and Food For the Poor who made this possible,” Mr Buchanan said.

Following that, Mr. Mair said the whole essence of Food For The Poor’s existence, is not only to give of its donations to Jamaicans in need, such as the 40 housing recipients, but also to award longstanding donors, such as Father Palazzolo.

“It gives me great pleasure to join you in Arlington for the inauguration of the Father Tony’s Faith Village. Today, we will honour a man whose devotion and selfless service to the most vulnerable in our society is truly remarkable. We find it very fitting for the area where the houses are located, to be renamed ‘The Father Tony’s Faith Village’ in honour of Father Anthony Palazzolo, based on his dedication which has enabled the less fortunate to live in comfortable and secure homes,” Mr Mair said.

“I have always been fascinated with the quote that says, ‘The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.’ It is my strong belief that this statement accurately and aptly characterizes the life of Father Anthony Palazzolo,” Mr Mair further stated.

Father Tony has been doing extensive fundraising for Food For The Poor Jamaica. He has been representing Food for the Poor Inc for over 20 years, by travelling to churches all over the United States of America raising consciousness and funding for needy individuals in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In his response, Father Palazzolo said all he wants in return from the beneficiaries, is for them to love one another and live in harmony in the village.

“When you love one another, good things will happen. That is why we are able to do what we do at Food for the Poor and make this contribution to St Elizabeth. If it is well with your soul, then everything else will fall in order. If you start loving one another, then there will be even more homes here in Arlington,” he said.

Mr. Aston Smith, an amputee farmer, who lived in an old one-room wooden shack which was infested with roaches, rats and other rodents, was one of the recipients of the 40 houses. He said he was extremely grateful to have been selected to receive a new home.

“My house was in a very very bad state and I was in great need of help. Food For The Poor gave me the help I needed. Now, where I am living is very comfortable. I couldn’t be more comfortable,” Mr. Smith said.



Contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 3756136 OR
Petri-Ann Henry, Food For the Poor, Tel: 984-5005 or 564-2886