Wortley Home Gets US$4,788

A cheque valued at some US$4,788 was this morning (November 11) handed over to the Wortley Home for Girls, 193 Constant Spring Road in St Andrew, to assist in rebuilding the place of safety.

Work has started on the building, which was destroyed by fire in June last year. The private home is managed by the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman islands.

The money, a gift from the Mission in Washington, DC, was collected at the Annual Independence Church Service, held on August 1, 2016 in Washington, USA.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, presented the cheque to the Board Chairman of the Wortley Home for Girls, Raphael Sangster, at a ceremony held at the Ministry, in Kingston.

Mrs. Johnson Smith said the donation is an example of the ways in which the diaspora can directly “impact the lives of our children and the most vulnerable in Jamaica”.

She said the collection of funds, coordinated by the Mission in Washington, “shows again the direct connection between our missions overseas, the diaspora, residents overseas and our people who continue to live here”.

Meanwhile, Mr Sangster said he is extremely happy for the money, which will go “a long way in replacing our home”.

“The cost of rebuilding is some $46 million, but we are yet to be at $46 million, so this, in itself, will add to our coffers and enable the completion of the building with the assistance of Food For The Poor,” he told JIS News.

Mr Sangster said the 10 girls are currently staying at the SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

For her part, Board member Tanya Wildish, said she is grateful for the contribution.

“God is gracious and we have had such a great interest in the Home. The contribution is going towards the overall rebuilding of the Home, which has commenced,” she added.

She praised the individuals and organisations that have been helping in the rebuilding process.