A heart of gold - Teacher comes to the rescue of struggling Clarendon mom

The story of Latoya Brown, a struggling Clarendon mom whose plight was highlighted in this newspaper on August 26, evoked emotions of empathy and compassion among Jamaicans. Brown said since the story was published, she has received help from many kind donors. “A lot of people reach out to me and some send me some funding to help me out.”

In the August interview with THE STAR, Brown pointed to difficulty in providing for her seven-year-old son, Alrick. But on Friday, Marjorieth Manning, immediate past president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, Clarendon chapter, visited Brown’s Effortville home and vowed to help alleviate the strain on the family by granting Brown’s son, Alrick a scholarship.

The $200,000 yearly scholarship will cover uniform, textbooks and lunch for Alrick’s remaining three years in primary school.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected normalcy in many sectors. With online school a part of the new normal, Manning assured that Alrick will not be left behind.

Technological device

“We also want to provide a technological device to aid his learning and we will sort out the data part of it too. He will also get a desk and chair for his books and to do his work.”

“I plan to be there all the way. I am now a second mom,” said Manning.

The boy’s 32-year-old mother lost vision in her right eye and barely sees from the other. She is also an asthmatic and she is ailing from sickle cell, a heart condition, high blood pressure, and has suffered six strokes.

“I read the story in THE STAR and I was very empathetic. I read of the different illnesses the mother suffers and I said he should not have to be faced with all these challenges of having to take care of his mother, because she said he takes her to May Pen and helps her traverse to different places. I was really touched by the story.”

“When the mother said she’s concerned with how he will go to school, and that sometimes they are not even able to find food, it really pains my heart because no child should have to be worried about the adult world at his age. He should only be focused on school. I want to help him get through primary school so at least the mother doesn’t have to worry about his daily expenses,” said Manning.

An emotional, yet enthused Brown said, “I feel so happy, happy happy! Thank you, Jesus. I don’t have to worry about anything because once the schooling is okay, it fix everything,” she said, as tears ran down her face.