At 56, Margaret Green’s life of resilience and sacrifice has taken a transformative turn. Just in time for Christmas and days after her December birthday, Margaret, her husband, two daughters, and five grandchildren left behind decades of hardship in a crumbling two-room wooden house for a new, sturdy home in Albion, St Thomas. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and the Desnoes & Geddes (D&G) Foundation, Margaret’s prayers for a better life have been answered, offering her family not just shelter but renewed hope for the future.

Belated birthday gift turned early Christmas present

Margaret Green gets a home for the holidays

Jamaica Gleaner/24 Dec 2024

Margaret Green carries the weight of her family’s needs while navigating a life shaped by trials and triumphs. Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Food for the Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and the Desnoes & Geddes (D&G) Foundation, she is embracing a lifechanging gift: a new home in Albion, St Thomas. This gift comes just in time for Christmas and days after her December birthday, marking a turning point for her and her family of nine.

For the past 23 years, Margaret, her husband, two daughters, and five grandchildren have lived in a dilapidated two-room wooden structure. The cramped quarters are a far cry from comfortable living, with belongings stacked precariously, cooking done on a coal stove outdoors, and an outdated pit latrine serving as their bathroom.

“I was in a desperate situation, praying for a miracle before the end of the year because I was evicted from my home [for the past two decades] and needed to move out by December. To be honest, words can’t explain how excited I am that I got a new home before the year ended. The old place would always leak when it rained and it was very small for the nine of us. I didn’t want things to get worse,” Margaret said candidly.

“We had to bathe outside and I was very uncomfortable. I did not feel like I had any privacy. So I am extremely grateful for an inside bathroom in this new home.”

Margaret’s current challenges are a continuation of a life marked by resilience. Undeterred, however, she charted an unconventional path, taking on jobs ranging from street vending to construction work, where she mixed cement and laid blocks alongside her male counterparts. Growing up in Seven Miles, she learned to adapt to adversity from a young age. With limited resources, she dreamt of becoming a nurse but lacked the financial support to pursue her passion.

PURSUING NURSING

Since she could not afford university to study to become a registered nurse, she enrolled at Runaway Bay HEART Academy to pursue practical nursing, setting the foundation for a career she loved. She is now a practical nurse at Bustamante Hospital for Children, where she has been for over a decade. Despite her hard work, financial setbacks – including the loss of her grocery shop business during the COVID-19 pandemic – left her struggling to provide for her family. Margaret had borrowed over $1 million to invest into the business that subsequently failed.

In spite of this, she recently used the remaining funds to start construction on a home on leased land, but the structure remains incomplete, with only ply and zinc covering its skeletal frame. So, being gifted for the Christmas holidays is like a star atop the tree – something she truly needed to brighten her journey and outshine some of the challenges she’s faced. On a December morning, volunteers from Food for the Poor and the D&G Foundation went to Albion to build a sturdy home for Margaret and her family. For a woman who has given so much of herself, this moment symbolised the recognition of her perseverance and an opportunity to rebuild a house in addition to a life filled with renewed hope.

BEST GIFT

“This is the best gift I could ever receive. I’ve prayed for a better life for my family, and now I finally see it coming true,” Margaret shared as she expressed her gratitude.

The D&G Foundation’s partnership with FFPJ has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable families. This collaboration has delivered homes to underserved families across Jamaica, bringing the year to a close with Margaret Green’s story of transformation. Together, the organisations have combined resources, manpower, and compassion to tackle the pressing issue of inadequate housing, ensuring that each family gifted a home is given not just shelter but a chance to thrive.

“This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to creating meaningful change and uplifting families in need. Our team, alongside Food for the Poor Jamaica, travelled to St Thomas and built this home with our own hands – a true demonstration of commitment to growing with communities. We commend FFPJ for their relentless efforts in transforming lives, and together, while providing shelter, we’re building hope, dignity, and brighter futures for generations to come,” said D&G Foundation Director Dianne Ashton-smith.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.