On January 6, 2014 between 6:30-9:00pm members of The Jamaica Nurses Group of NewYork Inc. met at the Vanderveer Methodist Church where donations for the Homeless were presented. The group’s focus was to donate items such as Hat, Scarf, socks, T-shirt and underwear for the Holidays. Members of the group that were present were:
Donareen Denny President
Cynthia James-White Vice President
Claudette Powell Public Relations
Olga Alfred Member
Pearlette Martin Member
Marjorie Hewan-Lowe Member
Hyacinth Burger Past Chaplin
Winsome Clarke Member
The homeless program at Vanderveer Methodist Church was started 26 years ago and is currently coordinated by Mrs. Winsome Clarke. The program at Vanderveer Methodist Church provides shelter for a maximum of twelve men three nights per week. They are provided with cots to sleep, clean linen, toiletries, shower facilities and dinner. This program is in partnership with the homeless program controlled by Camba. Camba is a drop off location for homeless men; who are taken from there to shelters like Vanderveer Methodist Church. They are transported to Vanderveer by bus at nights and picked up in the morning and taken back to Camba where they are given breakfast and a metro card for transportation.
Ms Winsome Clarke explained that the homeless men are screened by a social worker for T.B, and if they are ill they are seen by a physician who prescribes them medication if necessary. They are also placed on a waiting list for housing; some of them are in the program for three years. Some have jobs but still cannot afford to pay rent.
Mr. Delroy Stephenson Chairman for the Board of trustees at Vanderveer Church informed us that they have 40 church members who volunteer do various duties such as those who sleep over, some assist in preparing dinner and some donate money and clothing. They tried women in the past but they were Difficult to manage
Ten homeless men were present and they varied in age, the youngest was 23yrs and the eldest is a great grandfather. One of the men have two young children who live with their mother and grandmother, he works he visits them then goes to the shelter. Some verbalized the need for jobs, the 23 yr old the youngest stated that he is very handy and needs a job. He is a Jamaican that migrated here when he was 17years old to stay with his mother and now he is homeless. They are very grateful for the Vanderveer Methodist church because of the great care they receive. They expressed that they were very appreciative of our time and effort to provide them with gifts.
On behalf of the members of The Jamaica Nurses Group we congratulate Mrs. Clarke, the members of the board and the volunteer’s for such a noble act of kindness.