The Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) has provided 200 face masks for citizens in Top Range, Mountain Terrace, and other communities near to its headquarters on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston.
The donation is part of the JRA’s efforts to support its neighbouring communities, as the nation continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The reusable cloth masks were purchased from the Housing, Opportunities, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme, the Government of Jamaica’s flagship initiative for providing employment and income-earning opportunities for young persons from 18 to 24 years old.
The JRA handed over a number of the masks to St Andrew Eastern Member of Parliament Fayval Williams at their headquarters, where the range is located.
In accepting the donation, Williams said, “I am very thankful to the Jamaica Rifle Association for this timely gesture, and I know my constituents will be grateful, especially because the masks are reusable. So they can use them continually to protect themselves from COVID-19.”
JRA president Major John Nelson said that the Association continually carries out social outreach activities in the Mountain View area, and is hoping to accelerate the pace, when conditions permit.
“We would like to have a health fair for students during the back-to-school period, but that will depend on the level of movement and interaction that is advisable and permissible at that time,” he said. Nelson said that, like most other sporting activities, shooting competitions are currently on hold because of the health-and-safety precautions being taken to combat the spread of the highly contagious virus.
“We are awaiting the Government’s decision regarding the resumption of sporting activities and, while we are obviously eager to resume competing, we understand that health and safety is the first priority,” he said.