WESTMORELAND FAMILY GETS NEW HOUSE FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR FOLLOWING TRAGEDY

Kingston, Jamaica: March 18, 2014

Home at last! Janice Pilliner (third left) holds aloft the keys to a new house which was handed over by Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica on Monday, March 17 to her and her nieces and nephews on Dalling Street, Savanna-la-Mar. Others in the photo are from left: Pamella Miller, Savanna-la-Mar Assistant Branch Manager, Fontana Pharmacy; Lorenzo Stanton, Project Coordinator, Construction Services, FFP Jamaica; Jean Lowrie-Chin, Board Director FFP Jamaica; Ryan Pilliner and Deacon Baldwin Powell, Convenor of Food For The Poor's Western Committee. The Pilliner children were left orphaned after their parents were murdered by gunmen in late January. 

 

It was an elated Pilliner family that welcomed their new house on the afternoon of Monday, March 17 from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

The family received the new two bedroom house, built by FFP Jamaica on Dalling Street, after the eight children’s parents were brutally killed by gunmen in late January. The house was constructed on land approved by the Westmoreland Parish Council.

Janice Pilliner, the childrens’ aunt who said she attended church regularly and took the children with her, could hardly contain her delight when she was presented with the keys to their new home. “Thanks to FFP for reaching out to the family and helping the children. It has been a tragic journey but we can move on from here with the help of God and persons who care like Food For The Poor,” she said.

Miss Pilliner’s remarks came after Deacon Baldwin Powell, Convenor of Food For The Poor’s Western Committee, blessed the house and said special prayers for the family, charging, "Whenever you enter through the door, say Peace be in this house.” 

 In addition to the house, Food For The Poor is providing the family with items of furniture, food and clothing. The childrens’ages range from four to nineteen.

Jean Lowrie-Chin, FFP Jamaica Board Director expressed gratitude to the children’s aunt and a community which she said was rallying around the family. She also expressed thanks to Fontana Pharmacy represented by Savanna-la-Mar Assistant Branch Manager, Pamella Miller.

Fontana Pharmacy is a participant in FFP Jamaica’s Charity Box venture and has made the highest contribution across the island. Mrs. Miller said the Pharmacy chain was only too happy to assist. “It is very fitting that we are part of this, we have always been part of community projects, and it is good that FFP could come in and offer such support. It was very sad when we learnt of it and we will do whatever we can to ensure the continued support of this family,” she told the gathering at the handover event.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were representatives of FFP Jamaica’s Social Outreach and Construction teams.