Jamaica: Adventist generosity spreads across communities in the north region

October 20, 2012 – St. Ann’s Bay, St Ann, Jamaica…Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher/IAD

The young, old and young at heart were all smiles and some testified of being overwhelmed with joy as pastors, workers, students and church members across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Jamaica completed a week of generosity on Oct. 17, 2012.

“Our week of generosity began on October 11 and we climaxed the initiative today with a school-feeding program and so far, the responses have been very good,” said Rachel Pyne, community services director for the church in North Jamaica.

Kamisha Hall, student at the Priory Primary and Infant School receives a hot meal from Rachel Pyne, director for community services in North Jamaica on Oct. 17, 2012. Nearly 200 students benefitted from the school feeding program during the special Week of Generosity held Oct. 11-17, in North Jamaica. Images by Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher.

At Priory Primary and Infant School, students lined up to collected their cooked meals.

“We are blessed this morning,” said Principal Beverley Black, who oversees more than 700 students. “On a daily basis, we have students coming in without breakfast and what you have done for us today was not to just silence the hunger pangs, but you have made teaching and learning easier for the rest of the day,” she added.

The next stop of the day was at Lime Hall Primary, where hugs of appreciation were the natural response from some students after receiving a warm meal.

While many Jamaicans celebrated national Heroes day on Oct. 15, local church leaders, along with a few church members helped renovate the Jenomar Pre-Preparatory located in Coxheath, St. Ann.

Pastors and church members painted the building, cleaned the school yard, fixed the roof and also did carpentry work.

“I am so overwhelmed right now. I am actually seeing my dream come true. It is my desire to see this school up and running, meeting all the necessary legitimate standards for January 2013, and you are making this possible for me,” said Jennifer Bell, principal of the Jenomar Pre-Preparatory school.

Last week, in Harmony Vale, St. Ann church members took their kindness to Raphael Morris who needed much help, as he was not able to move around freely.

According to Pastor O’Brian Forbes Morris ha ddifficulty walking.

More students receive hot lunches in Priory, St. Ann, Jamaica. Hundreds of persons across the parishes of St. Ann and Trelawny benefitted from the outreach program.

“As a church family we provided him with a cooked meal, washed his clothes, and gave him a thorough house cleaning,” said O’Brian, who added that the church would continue assisting Morris.

Elsewhre in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, scores of community members descended on the grounds of the Mount Edgecombe Adventist Church, capitalizing on the free blood pressure checks, meals and clothing distribution.

“Persons were just grabbing up the clothing that were provided,” said Hirfa Minto, a church member “It didn’t matter to them whether or not it could fit them. This shows how great the needs are and we have to continue to give our help.”

Teachers and students from Adventist-operated St. Ann’s Bay High and Preparatory School also eagerly participated in the outreach initiative, distributing food, toiletries and clothing to persons in nearby communities in St. Ann’s Bay.

Carleen Keen-Madden, a teacher from the school said she is happy for the program. “

In our visits we distributed bags of grocery and water to the aged and indigent and the responses were very encouraging, because this has reinforced in our students’ minds how fortunate they are,” said Keen-Madden.

“When they saw the living conditions of many of the poor, “ she adds, “they had to take a good look within themselves and some have expressed that they cannot take their education for granted.”

The Day of Kindness or Week of Generosity is inspired by the United Nations World Hunger day which is celebrated yearly on October 16.  This was adopted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in collaboration with local governments to promote hunger awareness.