Jamaica Broilers shares love at Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home

Members of staff at the Jamaica Broilers Group recently set out to visit the children at the Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home as part of the company’s ‘Share the Love’ initiative. The initiative was created in 2015 to provide a means for employees to get involved with the company’s ‘give-back’ to communities surrounding its core operations in St Catherine.

This time, activities included a Valentine’s Day dinner catered and served by Best Dressed Chicken, which included barbecued chicken, rice and peas, corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, and a tossed salad, with refreshing fruit juices. Dinner was followed by an interactive presentation by staff volunteer Tresha Gay Roper, who gave balloons to each child, noting that just like the balloon, God wished to fill each of them with His love to bring them to their full potential in Christ.

Althea Forbes, administrator at the home, was emotional as she responded to the group’s efforts: “I am really thrilled, and I’m really blessed to have you coming in. I feel like I want to cry because honestly, from the ten years I’m here, this has never been set up like this. I really feel so joyful and overwhelmed.”

Following activities in the dining room, volunteers shared cupcakes and other treats with the children for dessert. Members of staff at the children’s home were also gifted with Valentine’s Day packages of non-alcoholic wine and chocolates.

GeAnne Dwyer, group public relations and training administrator, noted that the company wished to have an impact on the lives of the children as well as pay tribute to the love and care of the Strathmore Gardens team.

“The Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home is really a safe space for children to stay while family matters are being resolved with the ultimate aim being to reunite the children with their families. It takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice to give so much love to so many children, and these ladies have invested their lives in this cause. We want to join them in sharing love with the children here, but we also want to celebrate them for all they do to keep these little ones safe daily,” said Dwyer.

The group left gifts of cleaning supplies and household items, donated by the Hi-Pro Farm Supplies Store, as well as grocery items donated by members of staff across the Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies.