On International Volunteer Day, we thank our amazing volunteers who go above and beyond to help families and communities thrive. Recently, a team of volunteers with the Carpenters' Local 27 union visited Clarendon, Jamaica, to build a house for a family and provide them with hope for a brighter future!
In October, 12 members of the Equity Committee at the Carpenters’ Union Local 27, traveled to Clarendon, Jamaica to build a home for a struggling father, his daughter and three-month old granddaughter. This new home provides the family with a fresh start and the opportunity to break the generational cycle of poverty.
As you scroll down you’ll see we have highlighted two exemplary volunteers, Rokhaya Gueye and Chris Campbell, who have made a positive change in communities for over 30 years by lending their trades skills to help others, locally and globally.
Food For The Poor’s local contractors had laid the concrete foundation and prepared the build site for when the team of volunteers arrived. Volunteers were responsible for framing the walls and roof, installing the plywood and zinc roofing, painting the walls, and finishing the washroom and kitchen.
Volunteer Feature: Rokhaya Gueye, Community Partnership Coordinator at Carpenters Regional Council
“It was a deeply fulfilling experience to participate in a humanitarian project in Jamaica. As a woman, providing a safe home to a less fortunate family means offering them a place to live that is secure, stable, and conducive to their well-being. This includes a dwelling that is structurally sound, free from hazards, and equipped with basic amenities like clean water, electricity, and heating. Also, it involves creating an environment where the family feels supported, valued, and able to thrive, which can have a positive impact on their overall quality of life. I am looking forward to organizing a similar project with the Sisters in the Brotherhood of Carpenters Union to lead a humanitarian build in 2024.”
Volunteer Feature: Chris Campbell, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Representative with the Carpenters Regional Council
“I put the keys in the homeowner’s hands, letting him know that it was a pleasure for us to do this. We relished this opportunity and we genuinely feel it is the right thing to do for a family in need. We came back feeling inspired with a renewed appreciation of the difference we can all make for those who are less fortunate. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved who made this build a success.”
