ImageFor 4 weeks in January and February the Carrollton-Farmers Branch club members had a chance to purchase Valentine’s Day goodies to support the 2 disabled children’s homes near Montego Bay that our club has been supporting since 2010.

Valentine gift choices this year included large stuffed dogs with an adoption certificate and various gift baskets for ladies, girls and boys.  A basket for monetary donations was also available for those preferrinb that option.

While our 2012 goal was set at $600, a total of $1,000 after expenses was raised which was matched by Rotarian Gary Embrey for a total of $2,000!   Adding this to the $400 from the 2011 Valentine’s fundraiser we now have a total of $2,400.00.  We believe $1,200 for each home will have positive impacts on their budgets this year in providing necessary supplies for these precious children.

We also decided it would be fun to deliver some extras so we have began a campaign to collect crayons, markers, pens, pencils, coloring books and DVDs for the 2 homes. To learn more about the 2 homes, click on "More" below.

Regina Edwards and her family will travel this spring to deliver a check to the Montego Bay Rotary Club and to visit the 2 homes.  (Watch for pictures to be posted on this website after they return.) Past President Bhagwan Chuganey and our long-time Rotary friends in the Montego Bay Club will deposit the proceeds in an account that can be used by the 2 homes as needs arise. They will let us know how the funds are used.

Thank you so much for your support of this International Service Project. We shattered our goal and are so proud to be able to reach out to these 2 deserving homes and share our love and support this year.

Past President Regina Edwards and International Service Director Steven Patrick

Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch

 

West Haven Children’s Home is a legally established charitable organization in Jamaica. It was started in 1986 as a result of a survey, which documented the need for a residential facility in western Jamaica parishes to assist children with disabilities to reach their full potential. This varies from children with mild cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, and mental retardation to children with more profound handicaps. Full time caregivers at West Haven provide all necessary care including physical therapy and education. There are now 5 cottages with approximately eighty children, ages three to thirty years old. The home is under the jurisdiction and is licensed by the Children’s Services Division, Ministry of Health. The on-going operational costs of the home are supported in part by maintenance funds from the Ministry, on Fit Persons Orders. The largest daily support comes from local and overseas individuals, businesses and groups. However, even with the current incoming funds, West Haven continues to find itself in debt on a monthly basis and is in great need of additional funding.

In April, 2010 our club delivered supplies and $500 to West Haven that was used to buy a washing machine, toys, pampers and other supplies. Our friend Past President of the Montego Bay Rotary Club Bhagwan Chuganey helped last year with the distribution of 50 wheelchairs from  Reach Out and Care Wheels (ROC Wheels USA) from Bozeman, Montana. He also delivered shoes from our club’s recent Shoe Drive to this charity in December, 2011.

Blessed Assurance is a similar facility that is located on 5 acres outside Montego Bay in St. James. Mustard Seed Communities began in 1978 in the depressed community of Mona Common on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Mustard Seed began as a home for abandoned and disabled children and today serves over 500 children and young adults with disabilities, children who are HIV positive, pregnant teens and their babies. Mustard Seed has grown throughout Jamaica and in addition to Kingston has apostolates in St. Catherine, St. Andrew, St. Ann, and St. James (which is its Blessed Assurance location). It opened in early 2008 and in June of the same year, it was presented with six water tanks and a water pump valued at approximately $350,000 by the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.  Since then the club has continued to provide wheelchairs and other support. See http://www.mustardseed.com/site/PageServer?pagename=where_serve_jamaica#blessed_assurance for more details and a video about the beginnings of this orphanage.

In April, 2010 our club delivered supplies and $500 to Blessed Assurance for its numerous needs.