Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica is the largest charity organization in Jamaica that provides relief in the areas of housing, food, medical, water, sanitation, education, agriculture, outreach and micro-enterprise.
Friday, 12 September 2014
Thursday, 11 September 2014
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
FATHER ANTHONY PALAZZOLO & FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA EXCITED ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF ST.ELIZABETH
Father Anthony Palazzolo, an elderly Florida-based pastor has been doing extensive fundraising for Food For The Poor projects in Jamaica. In recent months, he has collaborated with Food For The Poor Jamaica and constructed 40 houses for needy families living in St Elizabeth, 12 of which are located in the district of Arlington. These 12 houses were officially handed over in a ceremony on September 10. Here, Fr. Tony is a picture of complete bliss following the unveiling of the sign, while two housing recipients look on in equal glee.
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY STUDENTS AWARDED WITH BURSARIES BY FOOD FOR THE POOR
Kingston, Jamaica – September 9, 2014: Two hundred and ninety students from the fourteen parishes in the island have been awarded bursaries valued at approximately $5.3 million by Food for the Poor (FFP) Jamaica.These students were awarded on August 28 in the Chapel of the local charity-based organisation located in Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town.
According to Mr. David Mair, FFP Executive Director, this is just one of several initiatives through which needy Jamaican parents and students have benefited from the offerings of his organisation.
"For the past 15 years, Food for the Poor Jamaica has been assisting students from all levels of the educational system with financial grants. We have been doing this because we view our investment in education as of utmost importance in grooming our children for future success in academia and life skills," Mr. Mair said in an interview recently.
"This year, a total of 290 students representing most parishes have benefited from back-to-school grant vouchers covering basic, primary, secondary level students and special students," Mr. Mair added.
He said the value of each student's grant varies and should help to offset the cost of textbooks and tuition fees.
Ms. Nordia Whyne, mother of five children – 11-year-old twins, three other children ages 14, 12 and 6, said she is extremely grateful for the assistance given to her by FFP.
"I cannot stop smiling. I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude because of what Food for the Poor has done for my family. Last year, I received financial assistance for two of my children. This year, all five children have received help and I cannot put it into words how thankful I am," Ms. Whyne said in an interview after she received five grant packages.
Gifton Wright, a 16-year-old fifth form student from Kingston College who was amongst the recipients said FFP has been assisting him with grants for the last four years and he is grateful for their assistance.
"I started receiving back-to-school assistance from Food for the Poor when I started grade eight. They have been helping me and my family ever since. I have three younger siblings and it is really hard on my parents to properly provide for us, so the help is really appreciated," young Wright said.
Food for the Poor Jamaica's operation first began in 1982 when goods were brought into the island through the Catholic Relief Service located at Emerald Road in Kingston. Since then, the organisation has managed to expand its offerings to needy and vulnerable Jamaicans through food distribution, health care, housing, social outreach, agriculture, prison ministry and contributions towards education.
Contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 3756136 OR
Petri-Ann Henry, Food for the Poor, Tel: 984-5005 or 564-2886
AMPUTEE FARMER FROM ST ELIZABETH PRAISES FOOD FOR THE POOR
ASTON Smith, a 60-year-old amputee farmer from Arlington, St Elizabeth, is expressing his gratitude and appreciation to Food for the Poor Jamaica for building him a new energy-efficient house.
An elated Smith has been singing praises to Food for the Poor Jamaica since he was notified that he is one of the 40 recipients who will receive keys to a new house under the Father Tony Village Project by Food for the Poor Jamaica.
The official handing over will take place on Wednesday, September 10 in Arlington.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer last week, Smith said that around 20 years ago, he was involved in an accident while assisting a friend to cut wood for the construction of an enclosure for cows.
As a tractor pulled pieces of wood from the field in which he was working, one piece jolted suddenly and landed on Smith's right leg. He was hospitalised with a broken leg and eventually released. Sometime after, he started experiencing severe pain in his leg, which doctors diagnosed as poor circulation. They then encouraged him to remove his leg in an effort to preserve his life.
"I was hesitant because I didn't want to lose my leg, but seeing no improvement after a month in hospital, the doctors said the leg had to go and I finally agreed," Smith told the Sunday Observer at his home.
After losing his leg, Smith said he felt distraught, but decided that he did not want to be counted amongst the voluntarily unemployed Jamaicans. Therefore, he remained active in farming.
"From mi have health and strength that is good enough. It is better than doing nothing and I know that whatever mi plant, God will increase it and provide more and more," Smith said.
Although hard-working and determined to achieve, Smith could not afford to build himself a house. He had been living in an old one- room wooden shack which he constructed on land given to him by a friend.
That shack was also a dwelling for roaches, rats and other rodents and had no electricity, no running water and no proper sanitation facility.
After talking with Smith, seeing how hard he laboured in the field and his unbearable living conditions, members of Food for the Poor decided to build him a house under their recent Father Tony Village Project.
"Although amputated, Smith is a hard-working farmer. Amidst his state, he is determined and contributes to nation building in many ways. His living conditions were not suitable for any human being to live in, so Food for the Poor had to help him," Executive Director Food for the Poor Jamaica David Mair said.
"In addition to the house and furniture, we try to make every house given, as energy efficient as possible with energy-saving bulbs," he said.
Smith told the Sunday Observer he was eternally grateful for the assistance given to him by Food for the Poor.
"The situation with my leg made it difficult to improve on what I had. I had to cook outside. There were rats and when it rained, it leaked and water settled on the floor and made me sick at times and I used to catch the flu," Smith said.
"A God mek mi get di house. Words are not enough to tell you how I feel. I feel so good. Now, I am no longer in darkness as before. I use the solar lights in the evening and just sit on mi verandah and relax. I thank Food for the Poor very much," Smith added.
The Father Tony Village Project came about based on a partnership with Food for the Poor and donations from Father Tony - a longstanding supporter of Food for the Poor Jamaica. Under the programme, 40 houses were built in recent months and will be officially handed over on September 10 to all beneficiaries.
BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Sunday Observer writer
Sunday, September 07, 2014
An elated Smith has been singing praises to Food for the Poor Jamaica since he was notified that he is one of the 40 recipients who will receive keys to a new house under the Father Tony Village Project by Food for the Poor Jamaica.
The official handing over will take place on Wednesday, September 10 in Arlington.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer last week, Smith said that around 20 years ago, he was involved in an accident while assisting a friend to cut wood for the construction of an enclosure for cows.
As a tractor pulled pieces of wood from the field in which he was working, one piece jolted suddenly and landed on Smith's right leg. He was hospitalised with a broken leg and eventually released. Sometime after, he started experiencing severe pain in his leg, which doctors diagnosed as poor circulation. They then encouraged him to remove his leg in an effort to preserve his life.
"I was hesitant because I didn't want to lose my leg, but seeing no improvement after a month in hospital, the doctors said the leg had to go and I finally agreed," Smith told the Sunday Observer at his home.
After losing his leg, Smith said he felt distraught, but decided that he did not want to be counted amongst the voluntarily unemployed Jamaicans. Therefore, he remained active in farming.
"From mi have health and strength that is good enough. It is better than doing nothing and I know that whatever mi plant, God will increase it and provide more and more," Smith said.
Although hard-working and determined to achieve, Smith could not afford to build himself a house. He had been living in an old one- room wooden shack which he constructed on land given to him by a friend.
That shack was also a dwelling for roaches, rats and other rodents and had no electricity, no running water and no proper sanitation facility.
After talking with Smith, seeing how hard he laboured in the field and his unbearable living conditions, members of Food for the Poor decided to build him a house under their recent Father Tony Village Project.
"Although amputated, Smith is a hard-working farmer. Amidst his state, he is determined and contributes to nation building in many ways. His living conditions were not suitable for any human being to live in, so Food for the Poor had to help him," Executive Director Food for the Poor Jamaica David Mair said.
"In addition to the house and furniture, we try to make every house given, as energy efficient as possible with energy-saving bulbs," he said.
Smith told the Sunday Observer he was eternally grateful for the assistance given to him by Food for the Poor.
"The situation with my leg made it difficult to improve on what I had. I had to cook outside. There were rats and when it rained, it leaked and water settled on the floor and made me sick at times and I used to catch the flu," Smith said.
"A God mek mi get di house. Words are not enough to tell you how I feel. I feel so good. Now, I am no longer in darkness as before. I use the solar lights in the evening and just sit on mi verandah and relax. I thank Food for the Poor very much," Smith added.
The Father Tony Village Project came about based on a partnership with Food for the Poor and donations from Father Tony - a longstanding supporter of Food for the Poor Jamaica. Under the programme, 40 houses were built in recent months and will be officially handed over on September 10 to all beneficiaries.
BY AINSWORTH MORRIS Sunday Observer writer
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
FORTY-FIVE INNER CITY YOUTH TRAINED BY FOOD FOR THE POOR
Kingston, Jamaica – August 13, 2014: Forty-five inner city youth have been trained and awarded with musical instruments by Food For The Poor Jamaica under their Summer Band Camp initiative, the sixth year of this programme.
The students, who are from communities located in Kingston, St Catherine and Clarendon, were awarded on August 12 at a graduation ceremony on the grounds of Food For The Poor located in Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine.
They were trained free of cost between July 21 and August 8 by Jeffrey Brown, Field Officer at Food For The Poor, with lessons for the: recorder, flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, bass drum, snare drum, drum and tri-tom.
David Mair, Executive Director for Food For The Poor, congratulated the students on committing to the objectives of the programme and gaining a skill in one area of the music industry.
“You are amongst a wonderfully chosen group of Jamaicans to have been taught how to play a musical instrument. Now that Food For The Poor has given you training and the instruments you were trained with, the onus is on you to materialize on your talent,” Mr Mair said.
Mr Mair went on to encourage the students to practice and actualise their musical talents.
Errol Lee, Founder & Manager of Bare Essentials Band, who was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, reiterated these hopes for the students. He told the participants that they were given a foundation on which they needed to build.
“All of you are very special,” Mr Lee said, “The reason why I say this is because, out of every 100 people in the world, only one can play music, and all 45 of you here can play music. Therefore, you are special.”
He further stated: “With what you have been taught in the last three weeks, do not sit in the background all the time. Materialize on what you have been taught. Try to expose yourselves to new things and don’t stick to one career choice. You can have more than one career with one being in the music industry,” Lee further stated.
Jeffrey Brown said all the students enrolled in the Summer Band Camp programme this year were encouraged to formulate a Food For The Poor Band.
In an effort to create this band, these 45 students will return to the grounds of Food For The Poor on the last Saturday each month to practise and better develop their musical talents and skills. They will also be given the opportunity to learn other musical instruments.
This year’s Food For The Poor Summer Band Camp hosted students between six and 16 years of age. Since the inception of the programme, more than 100 youth have been trained.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 5509330 OR
Petri-Ann Henry, Food for the Poor, Tel: 984-5005 or 564-288
6
The students, who are from communities located in Kingston, St Catherine and Clarendon, were awarded on August 12 at a graduation ceremony on the grounds of Food For The Poor located in Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine.
They were trained free of cost between July 21 and August 8 by Jeffrey Brown, Field Officer at Food For The Poor, with lessons for the: recorder, flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, bass drum, snare drum, drum and tri-tom.
David Mair, Executive Director for Food For The Poor, congratulated the students on committing to the objectives of the programme and gaining a skill in one area of the music industry.
“You are amongst a wonderfully chosen group of Jamaicans to have been taught how to play a musical instrument. Now that Food For The Poor has given you training and the instruments you were trained with, the onus is on you to materialize on your talent,” Mr Mair said.
Mr Mair went on to encourage the students to practice and actualise their musical talents.
Errol Lee, Founder & Manager of Bare Essentials Band, who was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, reiterated these hopes for the students. He told the participants that they were given a foundation on which they needed to build.
“All of you are very special,” Mr Lee said, “The reason why I say this is because, out of every 100 people in the world, only one can play music, and all 45 of you here can play music. Therefore, you are special.”
He further stated: “With what you have been taught in the last three weeks, do not sit in the background all the time. Materialize on what you have been taught. Try to expose yourselves to new things and don’t stick to one career choice. You can have more than one career with one being in the music industry,” Lee further stated.
Jeffrey Brown said all the students enrolled in the Summer Band Camp programme this year were encouraged to formulate a Food For The Poor Band.
In an effort to create this band, these 45 students will return to the grounds of Food For The Poor on the last Saturday each month to practise and better develop their musical talents and skills. They will also be given the opportunity to learn other musical instruments.
This year’s Food For The Poor Summer Band Camp hosted students between six and 16 years of age. Since the inception of the programme, more than 100 youth have been trained.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 926-6740 or 5509330 OR
Petri-Ann Henry, Food for the Poor, Tel: 984-5005 or 564-288
FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA SUCCESS STORY - STEPHEN WILLIAMS: THE BEE FARMER
FIVE boxes of bees, one smoker, one extractor, a veil and hive tools were what it took to get Stephen Williams formally started in the bee farming business in 2010. These donations from Food for the Poor have been credited with making Williams the successful businessman he is today.
The 54-year-old owner of Queen Bee Honey Production said he used the charity organisation's gifts to build his business, which is based in Irish Pen, St Catherine.
"I have sold bees in the past but I started to bottle honey and pollen in 2012. Today, I have a total of 75 boxes and that is a great achievement for me," Williams told Career & Education.
Williams, who also serves as a traffic warden, said he is happy he decided to venture into the sector because business is booming and he is comfortable.
"I am satisfied because I see where apiculture is growing in Jamaica. There is a strong demand for honey. This business has already made a big difference in my life and in the life of my family because, as a traffic warden, the salary is small, sometimes $6,000 per fortnight, and this was not sufficient to take care of our basic needs. Now I can finance my children's education and better provide for my family," Williams said.
"Right now, I don't have a specific market. I pretty much sell to anyone who needs it such as neighbours and friends and nearby shops. I would love to one day construct an extracting house, so that I can have one specific location to extract, process and bottle the honey. That way I can expand my market to bigger companies such as supermarkets and even overseas," he added.
Williams said he has employed his son to work with him to build Queen Bee Honey Production.
He said with every journey in life challenges are always present. However, with his small business he doesn't allow the challenges to overwhelm him. He only focuses on the joy and independence that come with being an entrepreneur.
"It mek mi feel good and important. I didn't know that bee production was such a productive industry and so I decided to take it up seriously. The bees dem inspire and motivate me every day, because when I look at them, how they work and how productive they are, that inspires me to keep doing this job. I say to myself, 'Is dis likkle bees produce all dis honey?'"
He said customers tell him that if they see his honey on the supermarket shelf they would purchase it because he produces quality honey.
"These things motivate me," Williams said.
Below are 5 benefits Williams said he has derives from being an entrepreneur:
1. Self-reliance. I rely on myself to provide my needs through what I earn from my bees.
2. I don't have to depend on anyone to provide for my four children, Imano, Kayann, Stephen and Odine.
3. I can now employ other persons and give them a chance to provide for their families.
4. I get to work at my own pace each day.
5. I am now in a position to train other persons who are interested in the bee business. I have already partnered with the Government to help provide training for persons with bee farms.
The 54-year-old owner of Queen Bee Honey Production said he used the charity organisation's gifts to build his business, which is based in Irish Pen, St Catherine.
"I have sold bees in the past but I started to bottle honey and pollen in 2012. Today, I have a total of 75 boxes and that is a great achievement for me," Williams told Career & Education.
Williams, who also serves as a traffic warden, said he is happy he decided to venture into the sector because business is booming and he is comfortable.
"I am satisfied because I see where apiculture is growing in Jamaica. There is a strong demand for honey. This business has already made a big difference in my life and in the life of my family because, as a traffic warden, the salary is small, sometimes $6,000 per fortnight, and this was not sufficient to take care of our basic needs. Now I can finance my children's education and better provide for my family," Williams said.
"Right now, I don't have a specific market. I pretty much sell to anyone who needs it such as neighbours and friends and nearby shops. I would love to one day construct an extracting house, so that I can have one specific location to extract, process and bottle the honey. That way I can expand my market to bigger companies such as supermarkets and even overseas," he added.
Williams said he has employed his son to work with him to build Queen Bee Honey Production.
He said with every journey in life challenges are always present. However, with his small business he doesn't allow the challenges to overwhelm him. He only focuses on the joy and independence that come with being an entrepreneur.
"It mek mi feel good and important. I didn't know that bee production was such a productive industry and so I decided to take it up seriously. The bees dem inspire and motivate me every day, because when I look at them, how they work and how productive they are, that inspires me to keep doing this job. I say to myself, 'Is dis likkle bees produce all dis honey?'"
He said customers tell him that if they see his honey on the supermarket shelf they would purchase it because he produces quality honey.
"These things motivate me," Williams said.
Below are 5 benefits Williams said he has derives from being an entrepreneur:
1. Self-reliance. I rely on myself to provide my needs through what I earn from my bees.
2. I don't have to depend on anyone to provide for my four children, Imano, Kayann, Stephen and Odine.
3. I can now employ other persons and give them a chance to provide for their families.
4. I get to work at my own pace each day.
5. I am now in a position to train other persons who are interested in the bee business. I have already partnered with the Government to help provide training for persons with bee farms.
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