FOOD FOR THE POOR TO BUILD HOUSE FOR CHILDREN OF MURDERED WESTMORELAND COUPLE

Kingston, Jamaica: March 13, 2014

FFP Brings Relief: Myrtle Brown (left) Projects Development Officer at Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica hands out food packages to members of a family in Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland. Eight children from the family were left orphaned after their parents were killed by gunmen in late January.  In addition to providing them with food packages, the charity organization is building a house for the family on land provided by the Westmoreland Parish Council.

The eight children in Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland who were left orphaned in late January  after their parents were brutally killed by gunmen, are to receive a new roof over their heads this weekend from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica. The children’s ages range from four to nineteen years.

The charity organization stepped in shortly after the family’s story was published in The Observer newspaper on February 6. The house will be constructed this Saturday, on Dalling Street, Savannah-la-Mar, on land approved by the Westmoreland Parish Council.

Within days of the incident, a team from FFP Jamaica visited the family in an effort to determine their needs and delivered food packages containing rice, cornmeal, peas and sardines. The FFP team has since continued to offer support.

Westmoreland Family Kitchen

Kitchen area used by family of orphaned children in Westmoreland whose parents were shot       

dead by gunmen in late January. In addition to providing food packages, the charity organization is

building a house for the family on land provided by the Westmoreland Parish Council.

FFP Jamaica’s Chairman, Andrew Mahfood, explained, “This was just another opportunity to help another Jamaican family in need. We couldn’t turn our back on the children when we read of their plight. We just had to step in and help in whatever way we could, in the true spirit of Food For The Poor’s mission.”

Executive Director at FFP Jamaica, Jacqueline Johnson, added, “Our team of investigators has now determined what the needs of the family are and we have so far addressed the major areas. In addition to building a house we are also providing furniture, food and clothing.”

The children are currently being cared for by an aunt. 

FFP Brings Relief: Myrtle Brown (centre) Projects Development Officer at Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica delivers food packages to members of a family in Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland. Eight children from the family were left orphaned after their parents were killed by gunmen in late January. In addition to providing them with food packages, the charity organization is building a house for the family on land provided by the Westmoreland Parish Council.

BACKGROUND

Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica is the largest charity organization in Jamaica. Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, U.S.A. is the largest international relief organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian organization that assists the poor in 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

FFP Jamaica partners with a number of stakeholders including churches, non-governmental and private sector organizations, children’s homes and service organizations throughout the island that deal directly with the poor to fill their most urgent needs and to encourage self-sufficiency. The work of Food For The Poor is funded by donations.