HAMILTON MOUNTAIN, St Mary — Several families in Hamilton Mountain, St Mary, whose homes were destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Sandy in October, were last week presented with keys to their new dwellings by the charity organisation Food for the Poor (FFP).

The families who lost everything when the category one storm wreaked havoc in eastern Jamaica were also given tables, chairs, stoves, beds, mattresses, and solar lamps.

“There is no adjective that can describe the way how I feel right now,” an overwhelmed Linda Cole, one of the recipients, said after she received the keys to her home last Thursday.

Cole, who has been staying at the home of her pastor’s parents since the hurricane destroyed her dwelling, was elated at finally having her own home again.

She was however very grateful to both her pastor who allowed her to stay with his parents as well as another minister of religion who she said provided her with the plot of land on which Food for the Poor was able to construct her new house.

Cole’s nine-year-old daughter was also ecstatic as she expressed joy at finally having her own room.

Tears of joy rolled down Cole’s cheek as she expressed gratitude to all those who helped her to once again have a roof over her head to call her own.

“Without your help and effort I wouldn’t have a home this morning. I must say thanks to Food For the Poor who has made this dream come true,” Cole added, encouraging the organisation’s representatives to “continue doing the good work.”

She also expressed gratitude to Red Stripe, for its $5.7 million donation to the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund, which is being used to construct 10 houses in St Mary, six of which were presented last week.

A total of 15 two-bedroom houses are being constructed by FFP through the support of corporate Jamaica. Food For the Poor has also matched this amount building another 15, across three parishes, St Mary, Portland and St Thomas.

Head of Corporate Relations at Red Stripe, Marguerite Cremin Chung Fah, who assisted in handing over the keys to the new homeowners, said “it really does make a difference when you can give back to the community.” She said it was important for corporate Jamaica to give back to communities as “each hand washes the other”.

Vivienne Dale, another recipient, also sang high praises for Food For the Poor and Red Stripe for helping her to have this new home.

Dale said she lost everything in the hurricane and had been staying with family members.

“It’s a big, big start,” the domestic helper said, adding that she had not expected to receive items of furniture as well.

“I am happy, real happy,” she told the Observer North East.

After Hurricane Sandy, several of the homes in Hamilton Mountain were completely destroyed or severely damaged. According to Food for the Poor, many of the residents were forced to reuse the old board and or zinc to put a makeshift structure together, while others stayed with families and friends.Last week’s handover marks the completion of only a portion of the project, as others will have their own home before the year-end.