FOOD and drink distributor Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) is to adopt the Glenhope Children’s Nursery, in Maxfield Park, Kingston, as its latest corporate outreach project.

CPJ Executive Chairman Mark Hart said that the company has decided to adopt the nursery, given its significance and the challenges it faces in taking proper care of children.

“Our work at Glenhope will see to it that the facilities are upgraded and the environment improved. Glenhope will be a model home and a catalyst for fundamental improvement of child care in Jamaica,” he promised.

The adoption will be made official following a tour of the facility tomorrow at 2:00 pm, which will involve Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area (East Central St Andrew), as well as Hart and CPJ’s chief revenue officer and head of marketing and sales, Dr David Lowe, representatives of the Child Development Agency and

the Social Development Commission (SDC).

The Glenhope Nursery is part of the Glenhope complex on Maxfield Avenue, which also houses the much challenged Glenhope Place of Safety for girls, home to 80 girls, aged eight to 18, awaiting an appearance in the family court, or were wards of the state awaiting long-term placement until it was closed by a fire in November 2011.

It houses 44 children up to eight years old, the vast majority of whom are in need of care and protection. The children have access to educational and recreational facilities, including books and audiovisual aids. A playground is also situated on the premises.

Forty per cent of the infants are eventually placed in foster homes, while about 10 per cent return home to

their parents.

According to Dr Lowe, CPJ values its role as a corporate citizen and has been playing its part in contributing to key areas of nation building over the years.

“We have been active in environmental protection and education through our Care Protect Jamaica initiative on the north coast, and also in health care through the We CARE Foundation activities for the Cornwall Regional Hospital with other private sector entities and private citizens,” he said.

“This new commitment will allow CPJ to have a direct impact on another area of national importance, the welfare of children in state facilities such as Glenhope. Our assistance will be part of a series of commitments over time,” said Lowe.