A few new mothers and staff at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH), as well as administrators of the Bustamante Hospital for Children oozed with gratefulness on Thursday as they received well-needed donations from New York-based Jamaican model Stacyann Anderson.

Through her charity organisation, the Stacyann Anderson Foundation, the model also made donations to the Mustard Seed Communities. On each stop she made on Thursday, Anderson gave away packages with food, clothes, diapers, sanitary napkins, wipes, toys, toothbrushes, toothpaste, body washes, bars of soap, shampoo, and other items.

Anderson landed on the island Tuesday with the sole intention of giving back to her fellow Jamaicans, the ones who are less fortunate, which she said made her happy to see that her kind deed was well received.

One of the mothers of a newborn at the VJH, who received a package for her baby, said she was very “appreciative” because she had been hoping that someone would bring some of those very same items for her newborn.

A Nurse Miller at VJH, who declined to give her first name, praised Anderson for her kind gesture.

“I think this is a great endeavour because so many times our patients come to deliver and they don’t have enough support from their spouses and family and they are really in need. Sometimes the hospital doesn’t provide enough to cover them so this is very good. We are very grateful to Stacyann Anderson for this. Our doors are opened for her to come again, anytime. We appreciate you very much and thank you on behalf of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital and the administrative team,” the nurse said.

In congratulating Anderson for her taking the initiative to donate, Beverley Senior Berry, matron at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, said it was crucial for individuals to give back and help to spread love.

According to the matron, many times children arrive at the hospital along with their parents from very remote parts of the island and a lot of them come unprepared for overnight stays at the institution.

“This will allow us to spread the gift of love. Stacy gave these with a willing heart. We are going to be sharing these items with the children who need it. Sometimes some of them come to the doctor not with the intention to be admitted but their conditions deteriorate. Parents sometimes come from all the way in Westmoreland and Montego Bay and they don’t have anything so we have to find things for them to start caring for them. Even clothing, some don’t have. Sometimes we even have to provide meals for the parents,” she said.

Gaye Lennon, the hospital’s administrator, said that the institution was very thankful for the donations.

“These underwear — the boxers and the socks will go a far way. Our kids will be really appreciative of these. We don’t usually get new underwear, so this is greatly appreciated. If the children don’t have, we have to give them new underwear. Sometimes parents and kids are here overnight and don’t have a toothbrush so this will really really go a far way. A parent came to me the other day and didn’t have any toothpaste. These we would normally give to the social worker if we get a little roll on or toothbrush. Even just the simple things can go a far way. We have a school area and learning centre as well for the children who are of school age so the books and pencils are appreciated,” she said.

Anderson, said that she grew up as less fortunate and that was what inspired her spirit of giving. This was not her first time donating to the less fortunate, however. In 2023, she made a donation to the VJH, but on a smaller scale. She said that she hoped that God never lets her basket run empty so she will always be in a position to give back.

“It melted my heart to see how much they really appreciate the little I have done. It is so surprising how these girls show that much appreciation. Here at the Bustamante Hospital for Children I handed out a lot of snacks, journals, baby wipes, diapers, clothes and toys. I do things that are of the Lord and if you are following God you are going to do the things that God loves. Doing this is love and love is of God. It’s a joy.

“I am hoping and praying that we can rise to an even higher level where other people can come in and support my cause. The donors that made this possible today were my close friends who are all a part of the whole mission. I am so happy and proud that a lot of my close friends and family were a part of this mission. My heart of kindness is coming from the fact that I was also in a situation where I was not raised by a mother or a biological family member. I know what it feels like to not have,” she told the Jamaica Observer.