News Release

“At Risk” Children Served at the Jamaica Red Cross - Handing Over Ceremony

The Humanitarian Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints painted, made repairs, installed a cosmetology basin, wall fans, bathroom and kitchen fixtures at the Jamaica Red Cross School of Transformation on November 3, 2018, during the Church’s International Day of Service.

       

The Humanitarian Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints painted, made repairs, installed a cosmetology basin, wall fans, bathroom and kitchen fixtures at the Jamaica Red Cross School of Transformation on November 3, 2018, during the Church’s International Day of Service. The students also received dictionaries and reading books that were donated by Carlong Publishers (Caribbean) Ltd. On the completion of the project, a handing over ceremony was held, on January 12, 2019.

                            
                          

Dr. Dennis Edwards, the President of the Jamaica Red Cross spoke of how delighted they were for the contribution from the church to the Jamaica Red Cross and youths in its education program. He explained that he’s delighted because when it comes on to the future of Jamaica, the future of the world, even the future of humanity, it’s going to take small, yet big events such as this, to make a difference.

                       

The 1st Counselor in the Kingston Jamaica Stake Presidency, President Mark Jeffrey Deans stated, “Caring for the poor and needy is one of the four-fold mission of the church.” The Saviour, while he was on the earth was asked, “Which is the greatest of all commandments in the law?” Matthew records the Saviour’s response, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might. The second is like unto the first, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds true to these tenets. We should indeed love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We believe that when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God.

     

Member of the central committee of the Jamaica Red Cross and Chairman of the steering committee of School of Transformation, Dr Carole Powell, mentioned that the Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, commended the church for its bed nets contribution last year to help fight the spread of the Zika outbreak. This time we look out children and their environment ensuring that they learn not just via books but through cleanliness.

  

Sis. Barney, a senior missionary and member of the church, stood up to support the mother of Daniel McDonald who is a student at the school. Sister Barney mentioned looking into Daniel’s book and seeing where he scored 100% in spelling and congratulated him for his outstanding performance. She concluded by saying our humanitarian effort is definitely the work of the Lord.

    

One teacher expressed thanks for the bathroom, the painting of the classroom, the fans and the cosmetology room for boys and girls. Another teacher exuberantly described how grateful she was for the fans. She said, prior to the donations of the fans, students complained about the heat and she tried on numerous occasions to share her fan with her students but it was still not sufficient for all. Now they are asking her to turn off the fans because they are cold. She is grateful to know the students are now comfortable while learning.

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