Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) welcomed Child’s Month with a gift from the Burger King franchise in Jamaica.

The fast food chain handed over 2,000 meals and kitchen staples valued at $2.5 million to the charity’s administrators at Jacob’s Ladder on May 1, 2024.

Danielia McLean, senior brand manager at Restaurant Associates Limited (RAL), operators of the Burger King franchise in Jamaica, said the gift came from everyone in the organisation.

“We are happy to fill their storehouses as well as bring smiles to the faces of the wards across the Mustard Seed Communities,” McLean said. “The wards were treated with toys from our kids’ meal features and enjoyed a mini concert to kick off the month planned specifically to recognise children.”

Child’s Month, which is observed in Jamaica every year for May, is themed ‘Stand Up. Speak Out. Protect the Rights of the Children’ for 2024.

The 2,000 meals will be utilised for the 180 residents across Jacobs’ Ladder, Ephesus (Haitians charges) and Widow’s Mite.

In late March, MSC’s Jacob’s Ladder accepted 59 abandoned, orphaned and disabled Haitian children, as well as 13 caregivers, who were forced from their HaitiChildren facilities due to gang violence in the French-speaking Caribbean Island. MSC, is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese charity, which operates care homes for abandoned children with disabilities; children affected by HIV; and teen mothers with their infants in Jamaica. Jacob’s Ladder sits on 150 acres and its facilities care for individuals with mental and physical disabilities beyond the age of 18.

Kadiann Drake, assistant administrator of Jacob’s Ladder offered thanks for the entire organisation.

“This contribution will certainly enhance care and is a great start to Child’s Month. I want to express sincere gratitude to the [Burger King] team for the generosity through the provisions of grocery items and 2,000 meal vouchers for the 180 residents,” she explained. “As we all continue to manoeuvre these difficult times, we are grateful that we can depend on organisations like Burger King to help us carry out our worthwhile task. Without your generosity and prayer, our work would be more difficult.”

The staff and wards were also treated to sweet offerings from the newest chain at RAL Krispy Kreme.