National basketballer extends helping hand to Falmouth

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, impacting the physical and financial well-being of people around the country, Jamaica’s basketball star Samardo Samuels has donated US$10,000 worth of food supplies to the people of Falmouth, Trelawny.

Jamaica has 30 confirmed cases of the deadly virus. One person has died.

The 31-year-old Samuels is currently in isolation in France, where he plays professional basketball for Chorale Roanne Basket.

He told The Sunday Gleaner from his base in France that he was very delighted to be making this contribution to the people of his community in this time of need.

“A lot of people in Jamaica are struggling due to this coronavirus pandemic, and so the fact that people are not able to work and do things that they are normally able to do, I think this is the right thing to do, especially for Trelawny,” said Samuels.

GREAT GESTURE

“I think this is a great gesture because I have been following you guys from here and I have seen a lot people stepping up and trying to help. I think it is going to start get a little hectic for people, and more people are going to get uncomfortable if this virus continues to spread in the country,” he said.

Samuels, who grew up in Falmouth, is a former Muschett High School basketball star. He noted that he has been making contributions like this through his foundation to his community over the past eight years.

“For years, I have been doing stuff for the kids in Trelawny, like giving them back-to-school supplies and stuff like that, and this is what I like to do for Trelawny,” he said.

“I think this is a time for the country on a whole to unite and help each other,” Samuels said. “We get up every day and we work hard as Jamaicans to enjoy life, but there are some people that are in need, and so we just need to come together and support each other to get past this virus,” he said.