FOOD For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica’s Board Director William Mahfood, in offering recollections of his father, the late Joseph Mahfood, shared that he loved three things supremely – Jamaica (and her people); the PWD Hunting and Sporting Club; and the Portland Cottage community in Clarendon.

He was speaking at the renovation project for Portland Cottage Primary School, which was fittingly dubbed the Joe Mahfood Legacy Project. Volunteers from the US-based Davitt-Ruppert Mission, along with representatives of FFP in the United States and the FFP Jamaica team, came together to honour Mahfood’s legacy on the weekend of February 16-19.

The project encompassed renovation of the school’s guidance office, resource centre, and administrative block as well as repairs to buildings that currently house the school’s tuck shop and senior teacher’s office. Both of the latter structures were previously built by Joseph Mahfood.

School Principal Dale Edwards, in praising the mission, FFP, and the work of Joe Mahfood through the years, said the project would be of significant benefit to the entire community.

“We not only now have a better facility for the children, but this will also attract new enrolment and thereby facilitate more parents in getting a quality education for their children. Joe Mahfood gave a lot to this community, and I am happy to see the continuation of his legacy. It wasn’t just a loss for his family when he passed, but a loss for the Portland Cottage community,” Edwards said.

Grateful parents similarly expressed their delight and appreciation for the renovations.

The work was made possible by committed FFP donors Chris Davitt and Craig Ruppert, along with family and friends. The team has collaborated with the organisation since 2001 and has constructed six schools, over 181 housing units, and a home for the elderly. They have also equipped the community with a sustainable fishing village project as well as installed two water-related and two agricultural projects.

The two leads each praised the late Joseph Mahfood for his integrity, drive, and compassion, and expressed their own gratitude in having sustained the partnership over the decades.

Speaking on behalf of the volunteers, one of the team leads Craig Ruppert, shared, “We are honoured to pay homage to Joe by doing this project. We have been working in this community for a long time, and we have much respect for him as a result. Our friends and family are coming and learning and going back wiser and more compassionate, so you may think we are helping you, but you are definitely helping us, too. We are proud to be part of this.”

Mark Khouri, executive vice-president of FFP, lauded the donors and volunteers for their contributions to the community of Portland Cottage. “Thank you so very much for giving back to this community. The hard work you have done over the past few days will pay off for this community. The children, parents, and teachers will be proud to call this school their own. You have made the educational environment better for them.”