SPALDING, Clarendon — His grandmother’s penchant for sharing with others was a life lesson which resonated with Clarendon resident Hugh Simpson.

The father of two told the Jamaica Observer Central that for the past twelve years he has dedicated his time to caring for the needs of others as he does for his own.

From making available audio bibles for people who are unable to read to finding ways to assist with clothing, food or household items such as mattresses, or financial support, the needs are ever present.

“I started selling bottles to do this,” he said.

In 2008, Simpson, who earns his livelihood through construction work in Jamaica, began exploring the economic benefits of the farm programme and on a seasonal basis would visit Canada to work on an orchard.

The tables turned and he found himself on the receiving end of the kindness of others.

Simpson is one of several farm workers who have benefited from the spiritual, emotional and economic support of Forest Baptist Church Guest Workers Ministry in Southern Ontario.

“We attempt to provide for some of the men’s spiritual needs while they are working in our area; but also have tried to connect with resources that will strengthen their families back home both while they are here in Canada and during the time when they have been reunited with their families,” said lead pastor of Forest Baptist Church Laurie Morris in a letter.

The church and Simpson, who is a member of Full Truth Deliverance Centre in Frankfield, have since formed a partnership to enhance his work through assistance with items such as Christian literature, food and clothing from “time to time”.

Pastor Morris’ letter was addressed to Registrar Errol Gallimore at the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies, an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

He is supporting the effort of Simpson and his growing network of “like-minded” individuals to see how best the “redtape” and the costs of shipment can be minimised.

“We consider our long-term relationship with these workers — who return to our area — healthy for both our country and yours,” said Pastor Morris.

Simpson and Andrea Peper — a Clarendon native who now resides in Canada — crossed paths for the first time in 2008 while he was in Canada on the seasonal farm work programme.

Peper is part of the Guest Workers Ministry at the church in the small town of Forest where she says there are very few Jamaicans outside of the farm workers.

She has been integral in assisting Simpson to grow his ministry and feels passionately about finding ways to empower her countrymen and “extending (the) hand of love”.

Peper said that in each season there are about 200 men who come to work and she would visit them on the farm, get to know them and build a relationship, which includes them even visiting her home for meals at times and attending church together.

“I go in as a sister, a mother and try to encourage them. (I do not) go in with a judging eye,” she said.

The Forest Baptist Church recently sourced funds for her to visit Jamaica on a “fact-finding mission” from February 3-26 to see how they can better work to strengthen the ministry that Simpson started.

In addition to visits to organisations such as schools, boys’ homes, infirmaries and with shut-ins, she was also able to meet with family members of farm workers and some persons who have been assisting Simpson in one way or another.

Clarendon Resident Marcia Richards, Deacon Kenneth Burrell from Old Harbor, Jamaican Dr Matilda Jones who resides in the United States and is active in her church there, and University student Pearce Lawrence have all been ensuring that Simpson can successfully expand his support beyond Clarendon and be aware of the needs in places which would probably go unnoticed.

“We don’t just want it to stay in Clarendon. We want it to be like a fever; we want it to be contagious,” Peper told Observer Central at her childhood home in George North, just outside Spalding in north west Clarendon during her recent visit.

She said that her husband, who is German but a “Jamaican at heart”, has a good relationship with the Jamaican farm workers and is also very passionate about the cause.

Simpson and Peper have earned the commendation of Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Davis-Dagg of Lambton Shores in Ontario, Canada for their “selfless work” in trying to assist and empower the people of Jamaica.