Mustard Seed homes receive needed supplies

Six entities within the Mustard Seed Communities were beneficiaries of the JN Foundation's Comfort for Christmas initiative, which was organised to provide diapers, wipes, and nutritional support to residents islandwide.

The gesture was welcomed by Mustard Seed, as a vast majority of its residents, which comprise babies to adults who have been abandoned and afflicted by ailments, rely on the items to support their daily hygiene and nutritional needs. Darcy Tulloch-Williams, executive director of the Mustard Seed Communities, said 80 per cent of the residents are incontinent, and many rely on the milk products donated, as they cannot swallow or digest solid foods.

"We are very grateful for this donation because sometimes we are in very short supply of diapers. So we always have to have the diapers available for them," she said.

Mustard Seed Communities are home to some 458 vulnerable persons in 13 residences across Jamaica. Besides abandoned children and young adults with disabilities, children impacted by HIV/AIDS, its dwellings are also home to teen mothers, who are welcomed along with their babies.

Jerusalem, one of the 13 residences in the Mustard Seed Communities, located in Spanish Town, St Catherine, was among the six homes to benefit from the JN Foundation's initiative. Ann-Marie Adams, assistant administrator at Jerusalem, received the supplies from a JN Foundation team who visited the home on December 18. Jerusalem is home to 116 residents, comprising children and adults ages 10 to 54 years, many of whom are afflicted with conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Through the 'Comfort for Christmas' initiative, the JN Foundation rallied JN employees across the JN Group to contribute either cash or diapers towards the supplies. The initiative was further bolstered by the JN Group employee giving programme, 'Funds to Fuel a Nation', which facilitates year-round contributions from employees to provide a continuous means of support for charity initiatives.