West Jamaica Adventists gift $5m in foodstuff

WESTERN BUREAU:

The West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (WJC) has been assisting persons affected financially by the COVID-19 outbreak through a generous outreach programme valued at J$5 million.

Pastor Glen Samuels, president of the WJC, told The Gleaner that the care packages were bought despite a reduction in offerings received in churches.

There has been a downturn in church attendance because of a ban on gatherings exceeding 10 persons in the Government’s bid to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

“Although collections are less than usual in terms of tithes, offerings, and other gifts, we, as a conference, bought and distributed approximately J$5 million worth of foodstuff at the end of March, and it still wasn’t enough,” Samuels said.

“Currently, I’m trying to see if we can source, from our very kind business persons, some assistance for our next distribution.”

When the Cornwall Regional Hospital fell prey to a noxious fumes saga just under two years ago, the WJC, which shared boundaries with the hospital, suspended some of its programmes and turned over some of its space to accommodate dislocated services.

“You have persons losing their jobs, or persons who were never working in the first place, as well as folks who are shut-ins or indigent, and in the midst of all of that, we’re faced with housing challenges, so the challenges are real,” said Samuels, explaining the motivation to help cushion the COVID-19 blow.

The WJC, which has approximately 70,000 members among 48 pastoral districts in St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St Elizabeth, mobilised its membership to deliver the care packages, which contained rice, flour, sugar, cornmeal, salt fish, canned foods, and toiletries.

Yanique Lindo, a member of the WJC’s Orange pastoral district of churches in St James, described her volunteerism as both bittersweet and eye-opening.

“For me, it is a feel-good experience but also heart-breaking because when you’re out in the community, you get to see the real needs, and it breaks your heart to know persons are struggling to find everyday necessities,” said Lindo.

“But I feel accomplished, in that I can do something on behalf of my church youth federation to improve the lives of persons who are struggling because of this pandemic.”

Samuels was full of praise for the youth’s willingness to volunteer time and energy for a much-needed humanitarian cause.

“I must commend our young people as some of them have bought items themselves for distribution, and we have youth federation groups who have gotten together with the little they can put together for distribution, so we do have multiple angles from which the church is responding to this situation,” said Samuels.