As Food For The Poor Canada continues the celebration of it’s 10th year, the second of three schools to be built this year took place this week in Wakefield, Trelawny, Jamaica.
An incredible group of skilled volunteers from the Carpenters’ Union and Helping Hands worked tirelessly for three days, accomplishing an incredible amount of work.
“Since 1882, Carpenters Local 27 has been building communities, cities and the lives of working people. Our members come from all over the world to build a better life for their families, and we have many success stories to celebrate. Partnering with Helping Hands Jamaica and Food for the Poor is a way to give back and to pay forward. We are proud to collaborate with such respected partners and to have put our skills to work on such a great project that will have lasting impact for the youth of Jamaica.” Said Mike Yorke, President of Carpenters and Allied Workers Local 27.
“Helping Hands continues to build from the ground up through our contribution to school builds in Jamaica”, said Denise Jones, board member for Helping Hands. Our board, under president Karl Hale, and our friends of Jamaica, stay motivated to give to Jamaica Land we love. Rest assured, the experts of Carpenters’ Union ensured this was a strong build!”
Through the generosity and dedication of its volunteers and donors, FFPC has grown steadily over the past decade, building 29 schools in Jamaica, 80 homes in Haiti and Jamaica, shipping tens of millions of dollars worth of medicines, medical equipment, food and educational supplies, supporting numerous livestock projects, and providing emergency relief after natural disasters.
“We are so thankful for the partnerships of great Canadian organizations like the Carpenters’ Union and Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation that allow Food For The Poor to continue to improve access to early childhood education in Jamaica. It is a joy to work with Canadians who are committed to justice and giving a hand up to children in the Caribbean”, said Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director of Food For The Poor Canada.
Wakefield Infant School will provide free, quality education to the youngest in the community. Demonstrating their commitment to changing lives through learning, the Carpenters’ Union raised the funds to cover the construction of a school that includes four classrooms, washrooms, kitchen, a water catchment system, fence and playground.
In expressing his gratitude, Mr. Cunningham, Principal of Wakefield School said, “Over the years Food For The Poor has been of great help and I want to thank them and the donors for their assistance. Because of you, I will be able to hire two new teachers and more children will have access to free education”.
About Food For The Poor Canada:
Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC) empowers communities in Haiti and Jamaica through five areas of programming: food, housing, education, health and livelihood. Through basic aid and sustainable development, FFPC responds to urgent needs while building community and social infrastructure. FFPC utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of local affiliated organizations, so as to better sustain and grow the communities they serve. FFPC is part of the Food For The Poor family of charities; the founding organization in the USA is Food For The Poor, an interdenominational Christian organization that works in 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
For More Information Contact:
Samantha Mahfood, Executive Director
Food For The Poor Canada
647.350.7269
SamanthaM@FoodForThePoor.com
www.foodforthepoor.ca
About Carpenters’ Local 27:
Since 1882 Carpenters’ Local 27 has been building Toronto and now are a local union that represents over 7,500 men and women working across the GTA and surrounding areas. Carpenters and Allied Workers Local 27 gets involved in many communities, contributing manpower, materials. For the Carpenters’ Union, social infrastructure is as important as the physical. And those of us who are able to contribute to the wellbeing of others understand that there is no shortage of need.
At home and abroad, the Carpenters’ union builds a stronger society and gives people the tools they need to get on their feet, have a productive life and give to their own communities such as the CHOICE program, which gives youth at risk a chance to pursue a career in the trades.
In Toronto Carpenters’ Local 27 is associated with the Jamaican Canadian Association, YMCA, United Way York Region, San Romano Way, Helmets to Hard Hats, Renos for Heroes, Timberfever, Toronto Breakfast Club, and the Toronto Police Services.
About Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation:
Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation was established in the Consul General Office of Anne Marie Bonner June of 2005 where Karl Hale brought forward a concept of supporting his native Jamaica. Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation seeks to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans and their communities by creating a world-class education system through investment in infrastructure, resource materials and expertise. To date, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation has raised more than $1.5 million dollars that has been directed to provide access to education all over Jamaica thanks to our generous sponsors and donors. HelpingHandsJamaica.com