D’Angel to ‘set up shop’ for Spanish Town youth

Nothing could rain on D'Angel's parade when she headed into her home town of Spanish Town, St Catherine, yesterday for another Christmas charity engagement hosted by her Angel's Foundation.

"Me a call dem showers of blessing," the dancehall diva told THE WEEKEND STAR. "When you give back, your blessings will be abundant and the angels in heaven rejoice. If I don't get them, it will fall on my son." D'Angel said that after the holiday season she plans to increase her efforts to assist others especially the youth.

"Being born and raised here, right on Young Street, I think it is important for me to make a landmark here. The community has a lot of talented persons so I am trying to set up shop to create job opportunities for them," D'Angel shared.

The I'm Blessed artiste said that no matter where she is in the world, she always looks forward to returning home for Christmas. She said that it is especially important for her to engage the communities that contributed to her colourful and cultured upbringing.

"I recently went to Philadelphia on a humanitarian assignment. Having partnered with [philanthropist] Tonian Wright for a charity cookout, where part proceeds went to my foundation, I had to make sure I returned to hand out the care packages and I only had a short window of time to get it done," D'Angel said. "It is something that is always received with open arms by the communities and residents from other parishes too. I was even happy to see that more elderly came out this year. I have to thank Honey Bun and Cal's and all others who rallied around to help, and the mayor [Norman Scott] who always accommodates me, to use the municipal park each time, because lots more families are feeling blessed this Christmas."

D'Angel also shared that her foundation, with the help of her sister, Jacqueline Henry, who resides in Rivoli, was able to donate her first home to a 78-year-old man who she refers to as Mr Pint. He was living in a rundown house and the artiste called on her social media followers to help her to help him. She also lauded the "talented and dedicated workmen from Rivoli who worked tirelessly to put together a proper structure for Mr Pint to live".