- St Thomas resident gets life-changing gift

At 56, Margaret Green is embracing a season of renewal, thanks to a life-changing gift that arrived just in time for her December birthday and the festive Christmas season.

Through the combined efforts of Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and the Desnoes & Geddes (D&G) Foundation, Green and her family of nine received the keys to a brand new home in Albion, St Thomas, marking a joyful new chapter in their lives.

"This is the best gift I could ever received. I've prayed for a better life for my family, and now I finally see it coming true," Green expressed, her joy palpable.

For 23 years, Green, her husband, two daughters, and five grandchildren endured the challenges of living in a dilapidated, wooden two-room structure. Rain leaks, outdoor cooking, and an outdated pit latrine defined their reality, but this Christmas, those struggles have been replaced with hope.

"I was in a desperate situation, praying for a miracle before the end of the year, because I was evicted from my home [for the past two decades] and needed to move out by December," Green revealed.

"Words can't explain how excited I am that I got a new home before the year ended. The old place would always leak when it rained, and was very small for the nine of us. I didn't want things to get worse."

Her gratitude was palpable as she added, "We had to bathe outside, and I was very uncomfortable. I didn't feel like I had any privacy. So I am extremely grateful for an inside bathroom in this new home."

Green's current challenges are a continuation of a life marked by resilience. Undeterred, however, she charted an unconventional path, taking on jobs ranging from street vending to construction work, where she mixed cement and laid blocks alongside her male counterparts. Growing up in Seven Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew, she learnt to adapt to adversity from a young age.

She dreamt of becoming a nurse, but lacked the financial support to pursue her passion. With limited resources, she enrolled at the HEART/NSTA Trust in Runaway Bay, St Ann, where she did a course in practical nursing.

She is now a practical nurse at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, where she has been for over a decade. Despite her hard work, financial setbacks -- including the loss of her grocery shop business during the COVID-19 pandemic -- left her struggling to provide for her family. Green had borrowed more than $1 million in loans to invest into the business that subsequently failed. Yet, she refused to give up, using what little she had left to begin constructing a home on leased land. However, with only a skeletal frame of ply and zinc, the project remained incomplete, leaving her family's future uncertain.

This December, Green's prayers were answered when volunteers from Food for the Poor and the D&G Foundation arrived in Albion to build her family a sturdy house. The partnership between the D&G Foundation and FFPJ has been transformative for underserved families, providing safe, secure housing and renewed opportunities for growth. Together, the organisations have delivered four homes across Jamaica this year, ensuring each recipient experiences not just stability, but the promise of a brighter future.

"This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to creating meaningful change and uplifting families in need," said D&G Foundation Director Dianne Ashton-Smith.

"Our team, alongside Food For The Poor Jamaica, travelled to St Thomas and built this home with our own hands -- a true demonstration of commitment to growing with communities. We commend FFPJ for their relentless efforts in transforming lives; and together, while providing shelter, we're building hope, dignity, and brighter futures for generations to come."

For Green, the gift is more than shelter -- it's a new beginning filled with dignity and hope.