HARDWARE and Lumber last Friday donated a full bathroom suite and a set of kitchen cupboards to Pauline Grant as help continues to pour in for the woman whose Weymouth Drive, St Andrew home was gutted by fire in 2010.

The 50-year-old former teacher — who, along with her teenage daughter were forced to sleep on the floor of a church — struggled to fight back tears as she came to realise how her life is slowly changing.

“Ever since our plight was highlighted [by the Jamaica Observer], things have begun to slowly improve and we are certainly thankful. A number of Jamaicans and several corporate companies have begun to provide assistance for us,” Grant told the Observer as she helped unload the gifts from Hardware and Lumber from a delivery truck.

But the gifts were only a part of the help provided by GraceKennedy, the parent company of Hardware and Lumber. Its supermarket chain, HiLo, had previously donated gift baskets and grocery vouchers to Grant. Additionally, Grant’s daughter Debbie-Ann was given a summer job at one of the supermarkets.

“We at Hardware and Lumber, heard about the plight of Ms Grant and her daughter and we just thought that we could at least provide some assistance,” said Kimberley Redway, administrative and promotions officer of the retail giant.

Other entities, including charity organisation Food for the Poor (FFP) and the Port Authority have also provided assistance.

Debbie-Ann is set to begin evening classes, thanks to funds provided by FFP.

“In addition to the help, the Food For the Poor has also come on board and provided funds to assist me to complete two additional CSEC subjects this September,” said a beaming Debbie Ann, who wants to become a doctor.

Meanwhile, Grant said the Port Authority has replaced the roof on two of the rooms of the five-bedroom structure.

“With this help we can now stay at the house and don’t have to worry when it rains,” said an emotional Grant, recalling how she and her daughter would stay in the roofless house in the days and sleep on the floor of a church at nights.

However, when there were late night services the two would spend the night in a bus shelter.

“We used to stay at the house during the nights but have decided to do otherwise,” she told the Observer in May, explaining that the decision was made after criminals threatened to rape her and her daughter.

Now with all assistance coming her way, she is keeping her fingers crossed that someone will come on board to help with her struggling bag-making venture.

“I really do want to earn and help myself. I am really thankful for the help, and I am hoping that I will get some assistance to push my local business to make bags,” said Grant.