FOOD FOR THE POOR HANDS OVER BASIC SCHOOL IN MEMORY OF STUDENT KILLED

Kingston, Jamaica: March 17, 2014

A great gesture indeed! Maxine Morris (right) principal of Rectory Basic School in Clarendon proudly displays a ‘thank you’ card made by students following the dedication of a new basic school building in honour of the memory of U.S. based university student Stephanie Crispinelli. Stephanie was killed during the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti while on a Food For The Poor (FFP) mission trip. Her parents Lenny (left) and Lin Crispinelli (centre) were presented with a token during the handover of the basic school on March 14. The Crispinelli’s along with relatives and friends have funded the construction of five basic schools in Jamaica to date.

Charity organization Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and a group from the U.S. based Crispinelli Memorial Mission on Friday, March 14 provided students and teachers of the Rectory Basic School in Clarendon with their very own building. The new structure will accommodate up to 33 children.

The basic school is one of five constructed locally by FFP Jamaica and the mission team in honour of the memory of Stephanie Crispinelli, a Lynn University student who died in the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. At the time of her death at 19 years old, Stephanie was on a mission trip with Food For The Poor.

Stephanie’s brother, Nick Crispinelli, was among the volunteers on the project. “Every time we come to Jamaica, we understand why Stephanie fell in love with this country. She was drawn to the people, the kids and their energy and this is also what inspires us each time. We hope that this new school will help to improve on what you already have.”

Principal of the school, Maxine Morris Miller outlined some of the challenges faced by the students and teachers prior to receiving the new building. Among these was insufficient space to comfortably accommodate the students; improper furniture; lack of water and electricity supplies; poor kitchen and bathroom facilities and the absence of an administrative office. “I am extremely proud to stand here today to say thanks to the Crispinelli team and Food For The Poor for answering our prayers, because for seven years I have been praying for a proper school. We no longer have to worry about sharing classrooms, bathrooms, or even chalkboards, Mrs. Morris Miller exclaimed.”

Member of Parliament for Central Clarendon, Mike Henry also welcomed the new structure.  “We appreciate what Food For The Poor has been doing for us as a country and this project is one way to get us out of poverty. In Jamaica, poverty is at an epidemic proportion but the construction of another basic school will help to fix that," he said.

Give me a five! Mike Crispinelli (right) brother of Stephanie Crispinelli, a Lyn University student who died in the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, is all smiles as he interacts with students of Rectory Basic School in Clarendon. The school was built and dedicated in honour of the memory of Stephanie who died while on a Food For The Poor (FFP) mission trip.  In preserving her memory, Stephanie’s parents, relatives and friends have funded the construction of five basic schools in Jamaica to date. This year, the team of 21 individuals assisted FFP Jamaica to build a school to serve 33 children and three teachers of Rectory Basic on March 14.