‘I’m so grateful’ - Manchester woman gifted house

A few months after being gifted a parcel of land in Cross Keys, Manchester, by her elderly church brethren, Meghan Swaby got a telephone call that left her screaming with excitement.

The 53-year-old woman, whose burning desire for a new home was long delayed by financial constraints, unemployment and very little support, was told by Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) to prepare the ground for the building of a new house.

"The land is rocky, so it needed proper preparation. I started working with my pickaxe to level the land," she said.

Along with the Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) Foundation, the charity agency FFPJ had put the wheels in motion to transition Swaby from her old house to a more comfortable dwelling. The donors, in getting ready for the construction of the house, sent contractors to the site for an inspection and found that a bit more work was needed.

"When the land was being assessed, they said to me, 'But it still no level, Miss Swaby,' so I got some help to complete preparation," she related.

With the land ready, D&G Foundation and FFPJ teams constructed the house last Wednesday and provided Swaby with food and other essential home items.

"I'm so grateful," she said.

Swaby works as a domestic helper for a single employer, a service she has provided for almost 30 years.

"My job isn't the most reliable. Given the nature of it, I might be told I'm not needed this week or the next, so achieving the gift of a home and appliances is a blessing."

Reflecting on her unfavourable living conditions, Swaby says she's grateful for the gift of a more comfortable home. Though she's still disappointed with her small income, she is still motivated to meet additional goals for the future.

"I'm still a little frustrated that I don't have a proper job, but I'm looking to get a better one. I've always wanted to start raising chickens, so I want to save for that, open a tuck shop, or buy and sell small items. I am grateful for the help I've gotten so far, and I hope you all continue to be blessed, so that you can continue helping others."

With Swaby's successful construction, the team is preparing to extend their efforts to benefit the four remaining recipients.

"We are extremely grateful to be in a position where we can give to those in need, further enriching the foundation's 'Growing With Communities' Programme. It brought us great joy that the FFPJ team has allowed us an opportunity to make an impact in such a substantial way. We're happy we could all work alongside colleagues on the project from start to completion, and we look forward to doing this again," said D&G Foundation Director Dianne Ashton-Smith.

She continued, "We applaud our internal team and FFPJ for their consistent efforts to give back in meaningful ways and contribute tremendously to national development."