Hard-working mother of seven gets new home

Having faced years of unemployment and struggling to help her family that lived in a semi-functional house, life has not been easy for Melita Parkinson.

But these days she wakes up with joy in her heart and a new zest for life due to the charitable efforts of Boom Energy Drink which partnered with Food For The Poor Jamaica through their Boom with Love initiative to provide her with a new home in Long Pond, Westmoreland.

Parkinson, 61, fondly called 'Betty', is the primary caregiver for several relatives, including her disabled daughter and grandchildren. Until recently, they were surviving solely from her Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education subvention of $6,200. Even with her meagre earnings, Parkinson continues to support her family by also taking on domestic work, planting vegetables and raising livestock.

"I remember how difficult it was for me when my mother left me with my grandmother at a young age and there was no one around to help me. As an adult I prayed for a heart of love for my family. My children and grandchildren are my life's work and I will always take care of them," Parkinson said as she wiped away tears.

According to Parkinson, despite her best efforts at creating a better life for herself and her family, she was among Jamaica's most vulnerable.

"The housing conditions were poor because my children and grandchildren were bundled in the house with around 13 of us living in the same house with me having to sleep on the floor most times. When you see the house, you would never believe so many people lived in it as it had only two beds, and we put both together and they slept on it one way while I slept on the floor," she explained.

The family shared the three-bedroom, one-kitchen dwelling with no bathroom or indoor plumbing. Parkinson also struggled with the constant leaks from the roof.

"When it was raining, I had to set pans all over the house because so many parts of the house leaked which was very stressful because I could never sleep during the rainy times. I was worried about the leaks and the children," she added.

The mother of seven said that she was often ridiculed because of the living conditions and the family's financial struggles. Her disabled daughter, who was born with no legs and one arm, was also targeted.

"I have been mocked a lot about my living conditions, but I prayed a lot about my living situation. My daughter was born with disabilities, but I took very good care of her and I brought her everywhere with me because I know that everyone won't take as good care of her. It was hard but I still had to push on and worked very hard to take care of them," she explained.

Through the Boom with Love initiative, Parkinson's prayers have been answered with the construction of a new home earlier this year. Parkinson and her family now have a three-bedroom home with a bathroom, a kitchen, and a verandah.

Parkinson beamed with joy at the simple pleasures she can now enjoy since the house was handed over to her.

"It is a joy to sit in this house because for the first time when it was raining, I have no leakages, no sleepless nights any more and that puts so much gladness in my heart. Every day I get up and laugh and say 'Betty really get a house for herself', and I can sit on my verandah and sleep in any room," she explained happily.