Adventists praised for school feeding program in North Jamaica

November 8, 2014 | St. Ann, Jamaica | Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher/IAD

Cureen Peart of the Chester Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Ann, Jamaica, serves students at the Chester Primary School during the breakfast-feeding program, on Oct. 9, 2014. The members of the church have been providing nutritious meals to the students twice weekly since April 2014. Image by Gary Buddoo-Fletcher

Students at the Chester Primary School in the Parish of St. Ann, in Jamaica are hailing a school-feeding program that sees the Seventh-day Adventist Church providing meals for the students twice per week.

The program, which began in April at the government-run school of some 86 students, was inspired by Adventists who wanted to do something for the children attending school without breakfast in the Chester rural community.

“The students have given the program 100 per cent rating,” said Suzette Barnes-Wilson, the school’s principal. “Your members have given the students a balanced meal; most beneficiaries are not accustomed to having fruits in the morning and we highly appreciate this.”

Merline Ingram, who is one of the organizers of the initiative said they put everything together.

“We prepare egg, mackerel, bread, fried dumpling, callaloo, porridge, juice, fruits, and sometimes a baked item,” said Ingram.

Four other women assist with preparing the meals and all live outside of the community. They make the weekly journey, setting out as early as 6:30 a.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays, traversing roads in poor condition, explained Ingram.

“The road is bad, hilly and dusty, but that doesn’t prevent us from helping,” said Ingram. “When we recognized that the children were attending school without the most important meal for the day, we had to do something and we enjoy what we are doing for them.”

Luna Boswell, a teacher at the school, said students really look forward to getting the nutritious breakfast, and say that the breakfast is nice. “I recognize that the students have become more alert and they have enough energy to take them through the day’s activities. The breakfast-feeding program not only helps students to be on time, but also helps some parents to reach work on time as well,” said Boswell.

During last month’s Day of Kindness and Compassion emphasis, Pastor of the Chester Adventist Church, Gary Buddoo-Fletcher, commended the leaders and members of the church who make the weekly contribution to the program.

“You are ensuring that these children get a fair chance of a good education so that they can grow up to be productive citizens of this nation,” said Pastor Buddoo-Fletcher. “I ask that with God’s help that you keep up the good work.”

“We are here for the community, to do what we can to make their lives better. Our only appeal is for the Government to fix the roads so that Chester can be a better place,” said Christine Shand, first elder of the church and one who been serving the community for more than three years.