Glimmer of hope for desperate Portmore mom of seven
Published:Saturday | January 30, 2021 | 12:17 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston/Gleaner Writer
There is hope on the horizon for Portmore mother of seven Natasha Jones, whose plight The Gleaner highlighted a month ago after five of her seven children were taken into state care as result of the deplorable conditions the family had been living in.
She had been appealing for assistance to refurbish her home so that the family could be reunited.
Minister Heather White Davis, who has been championing Jones’ cause, said that there has been a strong outpouring of support from persons across the island as well as from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom since the story was published.
“A lot of them don’t want their names to be called. They just want to help where they can,” White Davis told The Gleaner, expressing gratitude to all those who were able to reach out.
“Natasha has since opened a little stall at the front of the land, selling a few things – not enough, but she is doing what she can,” White Davis added.
The minister revealed that she has also dumped a section of land and constructing the foundation for a new home as they dialogue with Food For The Poor.
“We still need a lot more assistance,” White Davis said, adding that Jones could have received more help, but she was confused with another Natasha being assisted by Facebook user Zazan, who was doing an outreach for that person, who she understands has got a house, thanks to the outpouring of love from his followers.
It is that confusion surrounding the two that saw some who have knowledge of that outreach cursing Natasha that she got enough help and was trying to scam persons for more money.
“They are two different persons,” stressed Davis White, who said that in December Natasha and her children received care packages as well as clothes.
On February 4, Jones will return to court and White Davis is hoping that the judge will look favourably at the progress being made.
As for Jones, who hardly spoke, she is just grateful for all that White Davis has been doing.
“I trust her. She has taken it upon herself to help me in this struggle, and for the first time in my life, I have hope. I just want the help to continue to come in that my house can be completed. I miss my children so much,” Jones said. “Sometimes I just cry myself to sleep.”
The mom said that when she visited them two weeks ago, they were crying that they wanted to come home.
“It broke my heart when my eldest son told me to try and get the smaller ones and he will remain where he is until they can all be together,” said Jones.