VM Group remodels home for the aged
Published:Tuesday | May 24, 2016 | 12:00 AMKeisha Hill
THEEIRA Schader Home for the Aged received a much-needed facelift on Labour Day, thanks to a team of volunteers from the Victoria Mutual Group who visited the premises located in Trench Town, St Andrew.
The team of volunteers included employees from Victoria Mutual Wealth, Prime Asset Management and Victoria Mutual Building Society. The entire facility was painted, including the bedrooms for the residents, and a vegetable garden was planted. A refrigerator was also donated for the kitchen.
Courtney Campbell, president and CEO, said as sponsors of the National Prayer Breakfast, they realised that the donations from the event were not sufficient to improve the conditions at the home.
"From 1878, our mantra has been about upliftment of the family and community. It was an easy decision for us to deepen our commitment to this home," Campbell said.
"We might get old one day and not be financially stable and could end up in a facility like this. It is important that these persons maintain their dignity, so we decided to try and do whatever we could to help the older persons of Trench Town," Campbell added.
Campbell said he was proud of the turnout from his team. He indicated that following the Labour Day activities, the company would consider seeking assistance from other corporate entities to complete the renovation activities at the home. These will include furniture manufacturers, and the residents are in dire need of help in this area.
The sustainable garden, according to Vivienne Bayley-Hay, vice-president of group marketing and corporate affairs at Victoria Mutual, would help to offset some of the cost for food supplies for the residents.
"It will contribute to the feeding of the people that live here," she said.
The Eira Schader Home for the Aged has been providing care for homeless senior citizens of Trench Town for more than 30 years. Proceeds amounting to just over $500,000 from the 36th staging of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast were given to the home.