Fri | Mar 29, 2024

GIVE reaching out to the less fortunate

Published:Saturday | January 7, 2023 | 12:55 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Michael Tulloch (centre), former Reggae Boy and member of the GIVE Foundation, and Enroy Thomas (right) present Neville Tulloch with a care package. The GIVE Foundation presented care packages recently to more than 90 residents in several communities in St
Michael Tulloch (centre), former Reggae Boy and member of the GIVE Foundation, and Enroy Thomas (right) present Neville Tulloch with a care package. The GIVE Foundation presented care packages recently to more than 90 residents in several communities in St Catherine.
Riley Green (right) from Cherry District, Dover, St Catherine, asks for help to rebuild his house from Michael Tulloch (left) and Enroy Thomas, members of GIVE Foundation, when they visited to present him with a care package recently.  The foundation deliv
Riley Green (right) from Cherry District, Dover, St Catherine, asks for help to rebuild his house from Michael Tulloch (left) and Enroy Thomas, members of GIVE Foundation, when they visited to present him with a care package recently. The foundation delivered more than 90 packages in several communities in St Catherine.
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The GIVE (Giving back to the community will Inspire Victory in Everyone) Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people who have fallen upon hard times and can no longer fend for themselves, or have anyone to help them.

In December, Enroy Thomas and Michael Tulloch embarked on a mission to deliver at least 90 gift packages of rice, canned mackerel, canned beans, sugar, condensed milk, bread, biscuits, toilet paper and soap powder, among other things, over two days, to needy residents in Kitson Town, March Pen Road, Duncans Pen, Corletts Road and other communities in St Catherine.

A Gleaner team accompanied them along the first part of the journey, which took us into Cherry District, where we encountered 76-year-old Riley Green, who lives on family land but who has been homeless since a fire destroyed his house.

He told The Gleaner that he has been offered help in rebuilding a home but would prefer if his old house were repaired. Green was very grateful for the gift package.

Thomas explained that Green was among the less fortunate who did not qualify for a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) or other pension but who would be picked up in the screening process of the GIVE Foundation, based on the recommendations of its members, and who would continue to receive assistance throughout the year.

The foundation is the brainchild of two Jamaica-born members of the United States Army, Phillip McLeish, who hails from Corletts Road, and Marco Jones from Spanish Villa. Both men are still serving overseas and could not be available to participate in the distribution. So, in the meantime, Thomas, along with former national footballer Michael Tulloch and Richard Bryan are carrying out the groundwork.

The men, along with community members, carry out the due diligence to ensure that people they serve are truly in need and deserving of the assistance. Over in the district of Fletcher, we met 67-year-old Errol Wynter who is only able to move around with the use of a walker. “A love man,” was his spontaneous response when presented with the care package.

Owing to his limited mobility, Fletcher is unable to work but showed off some castor beans which he plans to shell after they have been adequately sun-dried, for which he may earn a stipend.

The next stop on the journey was at the home of Rudolph Murray who we found cutting the grass in front of his home. The elderly man explained that he had not found the time before, because of a busy schedule doing odd jobs.

“Me a clean up mi place now, through me haffi work all the time, mi neva have the time,” he told The Gleaner.

He gave out a hearty laugh upon receiving the package, declaring, “Mi love that, a blessings man, respect.”

Back in Kitson Town, three persons in one yard were waiting to receive their packages – Gina Ellis, Eunice Murray and Larkland McIntosh.

Tulloch went on to explain that the foundation is yet to be registered but, given the plight of the people and the numbers who are in need, they had to go ahead and provide assistance.

“The foundation just start, so it is in the development stage and we are in the process of getting it registered and then we will have a proper platform from which to operate. For now, we are just trying to reach out to people because there are a lot of them who are in need.”

Anyone interested in joining forces with the GIVE Foundation or knowing of anyone who could benefit from its services may call Michael Tulloch at 876-295-1924 or Enroy Thomas at 876-314-4911.