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"Helping to make the holiday season
a little brighter for those in need"
Click here for details on previous Care & Share events
The Christmas season embodies a promise of hope and goodwill and is wrapped up in the sprit of caring and sharing unselfishly. It is at this time we come to realize that it is sometimes better to give than to receive. There are thousands of families whose Christmas is dependent on the generosity of those who care and are willing to share.
AJAA launched its first annual Care and Share Program on Saturday December 17, 2005 at the Revivaltime Tabernacle church hall. It was a resounding success
Needy families were identified by social workers, public health nurses and other community workers. A master needs list was also created and sent out to our members, local businesses, corporations and individuals. The response was overwhelming. Cash donations of over two thousand five hundred dollars and boxes and bags of much needed items that included food, toiletries, clothing, toys, and various kinds of Christmas treats and goodies were received.
Pastor James of Revivaltime Tabernacle was very generous in offering us the use of the church hall for the launch free of cost. Individuals volunteered their time, vehicles and physical help to pick up, purchase, transport, and sort and pack the items. Members of the committee, friends, families and supporters were sorting and packing the boxes until the wee hours of the 17th.
The launch on the 17th. took the form of a reception drop in and recipients, our members, sponsors, well-wishers and supporters were invited to attend. The formalities began at 2:00pm with opening prayers by Pastor James. Refreshments were served followed by the singing of Christmas carols by all in attendance. In attendance were members of our local press, recipients, Jamaica's Government agencies, other supporters and friends, our members and members of other community organizations. Families attending and who were able to take their boxes with them did so. With the help of our volunteers we delivered boxes to over eighteen families.
A young man from Milliken Mills High school received one of the bursaries in our 2005 Graduates Program. The Guidance counselor from the school heard about the Care and Share Program and offered to adopt one of the families from our list. With the combined donations from staff members and members of the school's hockey team they provided the family that they adopted with seven boxes of goodies that included individual gifts for each family member and a toaster oven. The Guidance counselor and members of the girl's hockey team were on hand on the 17th. to make the presentation to the family.
The AJAA will host its second Care and Share Program on Saturday December 9th., and Pastor James of Revival Time Tabernacle has not only offered the use of the Church Hall for the day of the event, but has also offered us space at the church for the sorting and packing of the boxes the night before. We anticipate even greater success this year and our goal is to assist fifty families. The success of this program is dependent on the generosity of community businesses and corporations, our member associations and community friends and supporters. We have called upon them once again to donate the necessary items or cash, as well as their time and physical help in the areas of shopping, drop off and pick up and the sorting and packing of the gift boxes.
There is no doubt that this program has, and will continue to replace tears of sorrow with tears of joy at the festive season and place a smile on the face of many. One could perhaps say that this is just a drop in the ocean but in the words of Mother Teresa - "we ourselves may feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop"
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