Fire victim gets early Mother’s Day gift

Last August when Sandra Shepherd's six-bedroom dwelling was destroyed by arsonists, her tears flowed freely.

On Thursday, her eyes welled up with tears again, but this time it was out of gratitude. The woman, who has been residing under a tarpaulin on Rosemary Lane in Kingston with some of her relatives over the past nine months, was given an early Mother's Day present by dancehall artiste LA Lewis. The entertainer purchased grocery items that could be sufficient for more than a month while adding $100,000 cash..

"Mi feel good for all of this and mi always want to meet LA Lewis and now him deh here a sit on mi bed. It has not been easy for us. It is about 18 of us that live here in the yard. Not all of us stay under the tarpaulin but we stay together. We lose everything and we get place to go, but we decide that we not leaving we one another because we are a true family. Mi really happy for the help and this is one of the best Mother Day present ever," said Shepherd.

The tarpaulin is tied to a section of an unfinished dwelling that is owned by one of Shepherd's daughters. The family's condition is far from comfortable but the central Kingston woman said they are making the best of the situation. She said she has received assistance from Member of Parliament Donovan Williams, but there is a far way to go before their lives are normal.

"[Williams] help me out and give me some things and I am thankful as well. With the help of other people and God, we going to build back. Sometimes we out here and we feel little bit 'fraid but we put 'fraid behind we. We get burn out but by the Grace of God, no one got hurt and is the greatest thing that. When rain a fall a problem because remember we nuh have nuh door to close or draw window, and memba Mother's Day a come up. When mi come from church mi nago have nuh window or door or house to relax in, but we still give thanks. Everything gonna come back bigger and better," she said.

She joyfully hugged Lewis while thanking him again for making her day better. She said she was beginning to wonder where she would source food for Mother's Day as they have no money.

"See mi get it and we can eat and drink and be merry. We can walk go out a road if we want and mi can bring mi children and grandchildren go down a Gloria's and go have dinner or buy ice cream," Shepherd said.

A smiling Lewis said he did not think twice to help when he learned of Shepherd's ordeal.

"Mi want to make this a joint effort with the PM and everyone else who can. Mi look and see say she is a mother and Mother's Day a come up so this is her present. I want to tell this lady that I love her and things are going to get better," LA Lewis said.

Those wishing to further assist Sandra Shepherd may contact her at 876 298 0954.