KINGSTON, Jamaica — The girls of the Jerusalem Apostolate in Spanish Town were on Saturday gifted hygiene and food products along with life-changing advice by the Optimist Club of North St Catherine in collaboration with the Sandra Lindsay Foundation.

Dr Sandra Lindsay, whose foundation presented sanitary pad dispensaries for the girls and young women, among other products, noted that she felt moved to support the young women and others at Jerusalem Apostolate when she became aware of their needs and the yeoman efforts of the Catholic Mustard Seed organisation to cater to their often severe difficulties, including the issue of “period poverty” which affects many young women.

Both the Optimist Club and the Sandra Lindsay Foundation will supply products to Jerusalem on a monthly basis.

Jamaican-born, Dr Lindsay came to international attention as the first United States (US) recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine beyond clinical trials in 2020, and is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, the highest US civilian honour.

Dr Patricia Smith, guest speaker at the handing over, home health entrepreneur and author, recounted her own life challenges as a victim of homelessness, parental neglect and as a ward of the state in Jamaica, where she encountered severe abuse surviving by dint of her strong will to improve herself, eventually rising in the United States from a nursing aide to obtaining bachelors, masters and a doctorate in Nursing Science while building her home health care business, Sweet P Home Care.

Urging the girls, and a few boys present, to strive for greatness despite their struggles, Dr Smith recounted her battles with anxiety and depression managed through psychotherapy, counselling, a healthy lifestyle and spiritual guidance.

“Trauma doesn’t just roll off your back. There is no expiration date; I take my health care very seriously. Don’t look at me with pity, look at me and be inspired, I’m living proof that trauma can lead to purpose,” Dr Smith noted.

She detailed how she would attend extra classes for Common Entrance, a former high school entrance exam, despite not having the fees required, “cotching” at the back of the class until the teacher realised that she had not paid and had her expelled, denying her a chance of even attempting the exam.

She noted that conditions in state care had improved significantly from when she was a ward, when there were no opportunities to get much of an education and urged the Jerusalem residents to make the most of their chances there.

“When I was placed in state care I was among Jamaica’s rejects, there was no structure, no system in place — now there is…I was sad and depressed, but remember the advice of Psalm 27, ‘Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me…” Dr Smith said, urging them to keep striving and study hard to achieve their goals.

Both Dr Lindsay and Dr Smith presented copies of their books — Lindsay’s First in Line, about her experiences on the frontlines of the COVID-19 epidemic and Smith’s I Persist, recounting her life experiences.

Jerusalem Apostolate caters to youth and children with physical and mental disabilities, those affected by HIV positive illnesses and a range of socio-economic challenges.

Entrepreneur and author, Dr. Patricia Smith (at left) poses with Dr. Sandra Lindsay while holding a copy of the book First In Line, written by Dr. Lindsay about her experiences as the first non-clinical trial recipient of the Covid 19 vaccine in the USA. Dr. Lindsay presented sanitary products to residents of the Jerusalem Apostate in Spanish Town, along with the Optimist Club of North St. Catherine.