Williams Fitness Clothing begins disability outreach

Fledgling gym wear apparel company Williams Fitness Clothing (WFC) is conducting a clothes and food drive for two worthy entities.

The St John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (Mona Rehab) and the Jamaica Society for the Blind will receive welcome assistance from the creators of the increasingly popular Gym Boss Gears brand.

"The Disability Outreach project started on March 30, with a deadline on April 23," explained WFC founder and CEO O'Neil Williams. "The homes were chosen by identifying factors such as their needs, size, gender of wards and our current resources to meet them," he added.

Both entities will receive the donations on April 25 when members of the Gym Boss Gears team go visiting. But Williams noted, "If needs be, a further week will be open (for donations) to ensure that our target margin is met." The 2015 Disability Home Outreach Programme looks to collect non-perishable canned and dry food items and good clothing for persons aged eight and older. WFC has been using social media, including its Facebook account, to spread awareness of the drive. Persons are encouraged to search their closets for pieces they may no longer wear but are still in good condition. Williams seemed pleased with the level of participation from the general public.

"The support is gradually growing, as our main contributors are individuals from gyms such as Gym Alfresco, Portmore Fitness Centre and the Student Union Gym," said Williams. "However, special mention is to be made for the high support of WFC Gym Boss Gears and to this project from the exceptional staff at the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission and the Jamaica Racing Commission entity."

Donations invited

Persons wishing to assist the drive can take their donations to Gym Al Fresco at the top of Molynes Road, located near the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre; Portmore Fitness Centre in Destiny Mall Plaza, Portmore Parkway; Spartan Health Club along Lady Musgrave Road; and the University of the West Indies' Student Union gym.

Specially labelled drop boxes will be available at these locations. The clothing and food drive is the second major outreach activity for the WFC in the past six months. The team visited the Holy of the Innocent Home Sanctuary for children in mid-December 2014, bringing sanitary items and books to the wards. Williams said these efforts will continue.

"The WFC Gym Boss Gears team always keeps an eye out for opportunities where we can impart useful resources towards any worthwhile project," Williams said. "We will be partnering with a few Rotary Clubs for a Labour Day outreach project."