Frenchmen and sponsors execute charitable deed

As the coronavirus continues to affect all aspects of Jamaican society, Frenchmen stepped up to support the Maxfield Park Children's Home by donating much needed items.

Frenchmen organisers were one of the first, locally, to announce a cancellation of their calendar of events for the carnival season, "absorbing all the financial setbacks during this period," said Ian Wong, director of Fantasy Mecca Fetes Limited, the owners of Frenchmen.

"However, it is important to put everything into perspective, to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We used our resources in association with our sponsors to provide necessities and support to those who truly need our assistance right now," he added.

Long-time sponsors of the Frenchmen parties - Grace Foods, Quality Inc, Big Jo, Pure Country juices, and Colombina - along with their creative agency Elle Creative Limited, assisted with the donation of non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies and an 800-gallon water tank to the home through the Frenchmen Cares initiative.

"We will continue to help those in any way we can as we all work to overcome COVID-19 together," Wong said while at the same time encouraging this attitude within the entertainment industry.

Staff Members quarantined

Thirty-six of the home's staff members have been quarantined on the compound in order to protect the health of approximately 110 children, aged from newborn to 18 years of age.

Empress Golding, chairman of the home, said that the staff members all volunteered to leave their own families and lock down inside the facility for a few weeks so that they could prevent the spread of the virus in the home.

She thanked the Frenchmen team for executing this contribution on behalf of themselves and their partners.

"It really means a lot because we are struggling, and we have been struggling, especially to secure enough resources to provide for the children and staff over the next month in case COVID-19 virus spreads further in society," Golding said.