Category: Food for the Poor Jamaica

Fun at FFP band camp!

Ali McNab (left), representing the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Entertainment, and Sport, and band camp instructor Jeffrey Brown (right) pose with Le-anna Smith and Ethan Clayton, two of the students who participated in this year’s edition of Food For the Poor Jamaica’s Band Camp programme at the organisation’s head office in St Catherine.

Food For the Poor Jamaica’s recent band camp project, which provides musical instruction for children age six through 16 on a variety of instruments was yet another success in engaging children for the summer holidays.

Attendees got the opportunity to be exposed to professional guidance and teaching on the various musical instruments and stylings on offer.

The children, and their parents, expression appreciation as talents were unearth and horizons expanded.

The intention is that programme will continue to be an annual event serving the community.

At the end of the programme a graduation exercise was held to recognise the achievements of attendees in tribute to the hard work they had put in towards developing competence.

See share scenes:

Drumming student Chozen Bailey (right) poses with his mother and brother after the recent graduation exercise for the band camp music training programme which concluded at Food For the Poor headquarters. Some 60 youngsters, aged six through 16 years, learned to perform on various instruments.

Source: Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/fun-at-ffp-band-camp/

Happy to finally have a home

Friday, January 19, 2018

By: Alicia Barrett

Two years ago, Jazzelle Francis’ worst nightmare became a reality when her home was burnt to the ground.

But now the 21-year-old woman is jumping for joy because Food For The Poor has given her somewhere to call her home.

She is not the only one who is elated, as another family from Rum Lane in Kingston who lost their house in that same dreadful fire will also receive a home.

Francis, a mother of two, told THE STAR that she is very happy that at least one house has arrived, and she is looking forward to the next one which is scheduled to arrive today.

INSIDE BATHROOM
“Me feel really good right now, plus me have inside bathroom and everything. We get table, we get stove, me just happy,” she said.

Francis said that after the house burnt down, she felt weary because she was not seeing any progress being made in terms of getting a new home, even though she had applied for it.

“Me feel good when me see dem come cause me did a call and a wonder if dem never did a come, enuh. When me see the material come and me see the foundation start, me feel good.

Then me get the call last night fi seh the house a come today [yesterday]. Me just go call me cousin fi chop down di tree weh did inna d way,” she said, smiling.

Francis said that living with family members had its challenges, and she is very happy that she now has something that belongs to her.

“It did hard. It did rough cause when you live inna people house yuh see dem a move ‘cumooging’, like them no longer want you there. Me really happy to have somewhere to call my own,” she told THE STAR.

Source: The Jamaica Star

Prisoners Released for Christmas

Friday, December 22nd, 2017

A St Thomas man who was imprisoned for selling bootleg DVDs will be reunited with his family this Christmas.

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, is among 261 non-violent prisoners across the region who will be home for the holidays, thanks to Food For The Poor and the generous donors who support the charity’s prison ministry.

“I hustle and sell copied movies in the town of St Thomas to provide for my parents and my daughter. While I know that selling movies is illegal, I didn’t see any other way to help my family, so the police caught up with me one day, and I was charged with it,” the unidentified man said.

He was arrested last month for breach of the Copyright Act and later imprisoned after he failed to pay the $150,000 fine.

The man also said that being away from his family was a challenge. While in prison, he received a Bible that he said he read every day. Upon learning that he would be released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre after his fine was paid by the compassionate donors of Food For The Poor, he was overcome with emotion.

“I am overjoyed right now, and I am very grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “If I had just listened to my father in the first place, I would not be here. God answers prayers.”

Seventeen non-violent prisoners were released from prisons in Jamaica for the Christmas holidays.

For 19 years, Food For The Poor has honoured the tradition of securing the release of non-violent offenders in Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, and Jamaica by paying their accumulated fines for Christmas.

Source: The Jamaica Star

Charity pays fine to free non-violent prisoners for Christmas

Friday, December 22nd, 2017

A 25-year-old man from St Thomas, who was arrested last month for breach of the Copyright Act, will be home for the holidays thanks to Food For The Poor and the generous donors who support the charity’s prison ministry.

The man, who is among 17 non-violent prisoners who were released from prisons in Jamaica, was arrested while allegedly trying to get money to care for his family, which includes his one-year-old daughter.

The former prisoners in Jamaica are in addition to prisoners in Guyana, Haiti and Honduras, whose release from prison was secured by Food For The Poor after the organisation paid their accumulated fines for Christmas. The organisation said in a release yesterday that a total of 261 non-violent prisoners were released under the initiative, a tradition it has honoured for 19 years.

The release said the St Thomas man was charged a fine of $150,000, which is approximately US$1,400.

“I hustle and sell copied movies in the town of St Thomas to provide for my parents and my daughter. While I know that selling movies is illegal, I didn’t see any other way to help my family, so the police caught up with me one day and I was charged for it,” the unidentified man said.

The man also said that being away from his family was a challenge. While in prison, he received a Bible that he said he read every day. Upon learning that he would be released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre after his fine was paid by the compassionate donors of Food For The Poor, he was overcome with emotion.

“I am overjoyed right now and I am very grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “If I had just listened to my father in the first place, I would not be here. God answers prayers.”
Each of the 17 newly freed individuals was greeted by Food For The Poor staff who provided them with food, supplies, positive words of encouragement, and travelling money.

The release said this year’s prisoner release is especially meaningful for 18 former inmates in Honduras.

The city of San Pedro Sula, according to the release, is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Some of the most hardened inmates are incarcerated in Honduras, but many arrested for petty crimes are locked up with them because of their inability to pay even modest jail fines.

Denis, 41, was arrested in September 2016 after attending a party in San Pedro Sula. He took a cellphone from another partygoer, and the police were called. Denis, who says he had never done anything like that before, was captured 10 minutes later. The phone was returned, but he was jailed anyway. Unable to pay the fee, one night turned into more than a year with Denis’s fine totalling $10,090 lempiras, which is approximately US$430, too much for the poor carpenter and his family to pay.

“When they informed me that I was going to be released, I thanked God, I felt so happy,” said Denis, a father of three. “I want to thank Food For The Poor and CEPUDO for paying my fine so that I can be set free and reunited with my family. Thank you!”

“We are not here to pass judgement on anyone, nor are we advocating bad behaviour, but it’s not right for a person who commits a petty crime to be locked away with potentially violent inmates,” said Food For The Poor president and CEO Robin Mahfood. “Why should a man’s life or that of his family be ruined because of a petty mistake and their inability to pay a fine?”

Five men and one woman were freed from the Association “Paz” De Superacion Por Honduras, and 12 men from the Pastoral Penitenciaria in San Pedro Sula. Each one received toiletries, food and a copy of the Holy Bible.

Three people, two men and a 20-year-old woman, were freed from Guyana’s prisons in Lusignan and New Amsterdam. The trio was taken to the Food For The Poor-Guyana office where they were fed a simple lunch and given a copy of the Holy Bible, travel money, bags of food, and personal care items.

It has become a tradition for President Mahfood to call the Guyana office to say a few encouraging words to the newly released prisoners and to allow them to express their words of gratitude.

“I want you all to listen to me carefully… please do not do anything that could send you back to prison,” Mahfood said, “It’s not worth going back there, believe me. Make the most of this opportunity given to you by God’s mercy and have a very Merry Christmas.”

From the prisons in Cap-Haitien, Croix-des-Bouquets, Fort-Liberté, Grande Rivière, Hinche, Port-de-Paix, and Titanyen, Haiti, 223 people were expected to be released yesterday.

One man, Dorcine, 23, a farmer from La Victoire, Haiti, was arrested in July for what was described as a misunderstanding over a farm animal. Since he had no money to pay his jail fine, the man ended up spending six months in the Grande Rivière Prison.

“They found me with a goat in my hands and with no evidence, and they arrested me because they claimed that the goat is not mine,” Dorcine said. “They said that they will give it back to me after my release. Thank you Food For The Poor for all the help you are giving us.”

Food For The Poor said it paid the fines and also provided each newly freed person with bags of rice and other items.

According to the release, the Food For The Poor Prison Ministry Programme is helping to transform lives. Since the programme’s inception in 1998, the charity said it has assisted in freeing, training and reintroducing nonviolent prisoners back into their communities as productive citizens twice a year, during the Easter and Christmas seasons.

“To support Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Programme, cheques payable to Food For The Poor can be mailed to 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla 33073. Please include reference number “SC# 74122” to ensure your donation is correctly routed, or make an online donation at http://www.FoodForThePoor.org/prisoners,” the release said.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Emotional Time At Food For The Poor Treat

Thursday, December 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM

It was deeper than having fun and eating lots of food. A treat hosted by Food For the Poor (FFP) yesterday left many wards of the State emotional as they were reunited with friends and even siblings.

Khalidah Bryce, secretary at Windsor Lodge Children’s Home in Manchester, told The Gleaner that she broke down in tears several times after seeing the joy on the children’s faces as they had fun and fellowship with friends from all over the island.

“Sometimes it can be a little emotional. This morning, for example, one of our children saw her two brothers, and when they saw each other, they cried and hugged each other so tight I started crying, too,” she said.

“The children love the treat, but it’s almost like a reunion as well. This means a lot to the children,” she said at the event held on the lawns of King’s House in St Andrew.

Nordia Smith, a night worker and a class teacher for teenagers at the home, was also overjoyed by the event but advised persons to focus on the importance of family and Christ.

“I think it’s a good day to be out, and they look forward to the gifts, food, treats. Christmas is one of the best times for them because, thankfully, we have persons who see the need to give back, and they give good gifts. They (children) can also get to utilise their talents because they take part in a lot of events where they sing, dance, and act. Many people don’t know that our children (wards of the State) are very talented.”

David Mair, executive director at FFP, said that they catered to more than 1,000 persons, including children and caregivers. He said it was a day that brought joy for organisers and the children.

“Some of the orphanages have sisters and brothers split. So when they come today, they are all coming together as a family, which is what we really want because this is what we do – we give back,” he said.

“If you spend some time with them and walk around and just see how they are enjoying themselves, that is what jumps out at me and makes me satisfied.”

jodi-ann.gilpin@gleanerjm.com

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Poor People Get Special Holiday Treat

Saturday, December 16th, 2017

Executive Director of Food For the Poor (FFP) David Mair has said that the annual mass feeding of the poor at Christmas time is one of the most impactful events locally that has grown from strength to strength in recent years.

Mair, who has headed the charity organisation for three and a half years, pointed to the increase in the number of volunteers as well as corporate support as the reasons for the improved event.

“We’ve had a lot of help from Salvation Army, and since I’ve been here, I’ve seen a definite improvement in how we bring them in and how we seat them. The volunteers have been crucial in directing and keeping order because 2,000 people is no small crowd,” said Mair, adding that the efforts of FFP, the Salvation Army, and others, resulted in more than 250 persons turning out to volunteer.

“We’ve seen a great response to our needs from corporate Jamaica. There’s always need for improvement because unfortunately, the poor and needy will always be with us, so we always accept and invite more sponsorship, but we are getting the support, and we’re very thankful for that,” Mair added.

The executive underscored that FFP was totally ingrained in the fabric of the country.

“We’re involved in a cross-section of every ministry. We’re involved in education through the building of schools; housing

ministry, through constructing houses for the less fortunate; agriculture because we have 18 fishing villages on the ground; we’re involved in all public hospitals. So we will continue to make a difference and alleviate suffering,” said Mair.

As part of its Christmas activities, FFP will next treat children from 26 orphanages on Wednesday, December 20.

‘I will remember this long after the food done’
All but forgotten by his family and subjected to public ridicule on a daily basis, Joshua Campbell, who prefers to look at the glass as half-full, was quick to share that “in everything, it’s the thought that counts.”

Campbell was among the hundreds of indigents who were fÍted by Food For the Poor and the Salvation Army at Emmett Park in downtown Kingston on Thursday.

“My family don’t give me a sweetie in over five years, so for a group of strangers to feed me, and a whole heap more, is amazing, and I will remember this long after the food done,” said Campbell, who was attending the treat for the fifth consecutive year.

The 62-year-old father of four told The Gleaner that he had been a carpenter until around 2010, when he developed a drinking problem and fell on hard times.

He stated that his inability to hold down work mixed with his love for alcohol resulted in his common-law spouse evicting him from a house they shared in east Kingston.

But in spite of the hand life has dealt him, Campbell pointed out that Christmas activities, the feeding of the homeless, in particular, is something that brings him joy each year.

“God knows best in everything, and I just hope that in years to come, I can be back here offering help, not being helped,” said Campbell.

Inside and outside the massive grounds, other persons could be heard praising the organisers of the event, none more so than an elderly woman with a walker, who exclaimed: “Thank you, Jesus! Bless them!” as she received her gift package.

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Purples Help To Feed Thousands At Christmas

Saturday, December 16th, 2017

The importance of giving back, especially during the festive season, has not been lost on the famed ‘Purples’ of North Street, who, on Thursday, after sitting their end-of-term exams, turned out in their numbers to help feed more than 2,000 poor Jamaicans across the island.

“At Kingston College (KC), it is service above self,” 18-year-old Ricardo Ricketts told The Gleaner during the Food For The Poor and Salvation Army’s annual Christmas treat at Emmett Park in Kingston.

The crop of lower sixth-formers who sprang into action as early as minutes after 10 a.m. readily served hot meals and beverages to the large, and, at times, demanding crowd.

As if mandated, the youngsters were meticulous in their actions, regularly consulting with each other and the organisers to ensure that no one was excluded.

“The KC culture is to nurture those that are around us and to develop worthwhile institutions so that we can have a better country,” said Ricketts, who also spoke of his intention to visit the Walkers’ Place of Safety on Christmas Day to assist with the children.

For youth parliamentarian Chad Rattray, 17, volunteerism has always been a passion.

“I’m always moved by giving back and seeing how it positively impacts people’s lives. So once I heard of the event, it was always a yes. I had to come along with my colleagues to give support,” shared Rattray.

While he hails from Stony Hill, 17-year-old Chadrick Chambers said that Kingston was also his community as it was where his school was located.

“One should always get involved in activities such as these. It contributes to personal development. At KC, we try to undertake as many service projects as possible. On Saturday, we’re going to feed the homeless in downtown in front of the courts. So initiatives such as these are bigger than self. It’s about bettering our people and the country,” he reasoned.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com

Food For The Poor Spreads Christmas Cheer At Golden Age Home

Saturday | December 16, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica hosted its annual Christmas Treat at the Golden Age Home in Kingston on Monday. It catered to the two Food For The Poor-sponsored clusters: D & G, which house residents who are severely challenged, both mentally and physically; and seniors with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Approximately 155 residents and caregivers from the home were treated to a day of fellowship, food, and gift packages.

David Mair, executive director, FFP Jamaica, noted, “Over the years, Food For The Poor Jamaica has continued to support the Golden Age Home in various ways through the provision of food, clothing, furniture, and medical items. Today’s event is an extension of what we do throughout the year, where FFP staff members come in and feed and spend some time with the residents here at the home.”

Chevanese Rowe-Lyn Sue, healthcare coordinator, FFP Jamaica, stated that the part of th Christmas treat that stands out to her the most is the gratitude that the residents feel.

“They were so happy for the gifts, and that made me feel really good to be part of this. Food For The Poor is able to impact so many lives on a daily basis,” she noted.

“I am grateful that I can experience this activity as it relates to reaching out to the less fortunate.”

The caretakers at the Golden Age Home, specifically those from Clusters D & G, are very grateful for the continued support from FFP.

Morelene Moncrieffe, supervisor of Cluster D, noted: “With Food For The Poor as the main sponsor, we are very appreciative of the work, effort, support, and all the kind gestures they have given to us. We look forward to this Christmas treat on a yearly basis.”

Sentiments of gratitude were also expressed by residents and beneficiaries.

Ninety-five-year-old Ambert Frazer expressed her sentiments to FFP: “We were really blessed to have everyone from Food For The Poor. I heard that Food For The Poor was coming, and I could hardly sleep the night before. I give God all the thanks for the cheer that you have brought us.”

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Food For The Poor Looks To Break New Ground

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Charity eyes special emergency-response team

Requests for emergency assistance for victims of natural disasters, fire and other tragedies are a feature of the workday for employees of Food For The Poor (FFP). However, one such phone call from Dr Omar Davies, member of parliament for St Andrew South, about a fire in Arnett Gardens late last year presented some challenges.

The call came about 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a Saturday, and, with the following Monday and Tuesday being public holidays, there would be no one in office for at least the next three days.

With the appeal being for immediate assistance for the fire victims – mattresses, food and clothing at least – the agency responded.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

However, FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood, acknowledged the situation highlighted the need for a specialised emergency response team to deal with such situations.

“I would actually like to see us be able to do that as well, because we are dealing with a situation where the people don’t have a place to sleep tonight. So if we can even get them some emergency supplies like mattresses, or clothing so they can at least get on their feet the next day, that would be good,” he told The Gleaner.

Proof of ownership impacting assistance in inner-city areas 

Andrew Mahfood, chairman of Food For the Poor, says the organisation’s ability to assist with the building of homes for persons in the inner city is being stymied by the beneficiaries’ inability to provide proof of ownership of the land or legal access to occupy the premises.

“It is one of the things that delays our effort considerably. If we were able to go into an area like Arnett (Gardens), where people have been living for many years, and just rebuild, the process would happen quicker, but we require proof of land ownership or lease, to show that they have the right to be on the land, to show that the taxes have been paid on the land. We need to ensure that our recipients have the right to be on the spot that we are building,” Mahfood said.

“What we’ve found in the past is that if we don’t follow those guidelines and regulations, we could end up building on lands that somebody else owns and then before you know it, somebody else comes and says, ‘You have to come out of that house, it’s my land’. But if we can somehow find a way where the lands in the inner city, the people can get the right to them, somehow it will speed up our efforts considerably.”

Charity organisation seeking to engage in community-development projects

Food For The Poor (FFP) is looking to partner with the State in community development in a more sustainable way, involving the construction of houses, community centres, places of worship, schools, etc.

“(The State) could give us plots of land where we can encourage community-type living and farming and co-operative-type. We’ve approached them and we’ve gotten initially some good feedback and it’s something we’re gonna have more discussion on. Agriculture presents a great opportunity for us and the people, given Food For The Poor’s ability to fund agriculture and water harvesting where you can put multiple tanks together with a source and feed it. Food For The Poor can, out in those tanks, we can put in pumps,” Food For the Poor Chairman Andrew Mahfood disclosed.

The charity organisation is now looking for recipients who are serious about getting into agriculture, especially with donors in the United States opting more to fund income-generating sustainable projects in agriculture, with water harvesting and sanitation issues a priority.

Said Mahfood: “We’re looking for areas where we can put in big water projects because donors in the United States are very interested in water, in being able to provide water and being able to provide sanitation. Those two areas we are finding our donors gravitating more towards. So let’s say that we have this project in a community, there is no running water. We can go and put in 30,000 gallons but once we confirm that there is a need, the office in Florida will then go to its donors and circulate it and get it funded.”

LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT

In the area of housing financing, which caters to individuals or families, more local businesses are taking an active interest by sponsoring 50 per cent of the cost of a standard Food For The Poor dwelling, which now stands at US$7,200. The charity organisation is quick to match any amount of such offers with a 50 per cent contribution.

Over the three-and-a-half decades of helping the less fortunate, political interference in its operations has been a non-issue, which Mahfood attributes to an appreciation of its stellar service.

“Our politicians and our Government, I think, do recognise that we can play a big role for the country and for them as well. If an MP is able to lobby Food For The Poor to do a lot of work in their area, it helps them. We don’t work with any particular MP. We want to work with every single MP in both parties. I believe that Jamaica, through the organisation, has a huge potential to do a lot more projects and we see those projects being funded in other countries. So one of the things that we have decided to for this year is to really mock up some very big projects and go after those donors in America that are funding the very same projects for other countries.”

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170130/food-poor-looks-break-new-ground

Food For The Poor assists corn farmers

For hundreds of farmers across Jamaica, a single bag of corn seeds represents a great improvement not only for the quality of their harvest, but also for the betterment of their lives.

More than 1,200 bags of corn seeds were donated by Food For The Poor Jamaica to be distributed through the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority across all parishes.

Omar Dennis, a farmer of 15 years, has seen positive changes since he received the seeds in August 2016.

Dennis, who is the sole breadwinner of his family, said reaping the produce from the donated corn seeds has benefited his family. In the past, he sometimes struggled to send his two children, ages 8 and 11, to school due to lack of funds.

“Now I am sure that I will be going home with money for my family. It feels good to know that I am able to provide food for them and I am sure that my children can go to school,” Dennis said.

Dennis expressed gratitude to Food For The Poor Jamaica for providing the seeds, which he could not afford to buy.

Corn seeds are very expensive. One bag of corn seed would actually cost us approximately J$30,000, so it is really a great venture,” he added.

Dennis Roberts, who has farmed for 30 years, expressed happiness with the high-quality crop that the corn seeds produced.

“It’s among the best quality that we have seen since planting corn for over the last 20 years,” he said.

Roberts added that the corn was able to survive the drought and resist diseases better than what he had grown in the past.

He also praised the charity for its contribution to farmers.

“We will save as a result of not having to purchase fertilisers, which means we will earn a greater profit,” Roberts said.

David Mair, executive director of Food For The Poor Jamaica, said the charity and its donors recognise the importance of agriculture to Jamaica’s development.

“Distributions such as this and our continued support of members of the agricultural sector represent our belief that agriculture is critical to Jamaica achieving socioeconomic growth,” Mair said.

Food For The Poor Jamaica contributes to farmers across Jamaica through its agricultural ministry and a number of initiatives.

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Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170130/food-poor-assists-corn-farmers