MUSTARD Seed Communities and its partners put smiles on the faces of children at two homes that house wards of the State by involving them in fun activities on Labour Day, Monday.

Andre McFarlane, administrator of Mustard Seed’s Dare to Care girls’ home in St Catherine, shared that the wards were treated to a fun day of activities while assisting the adults with painting and other beautification activities.

He explained that wards at the Matthew 2540 Boys’ Home in Kingston were also particularly pleased by their inclusion in the day’s tree-planting and rabbit-rearing exercises.

Both homes cater to children with disabilities and those living with HIV, and are operated by Mustard Seed.

“Our focus today is on beautification. What we want to do is ensure that [the wards] are in a space in which they can add their own touches,” he said, explaining that the children were active participants in the process.

“The project would not be possible without the intervention of the Optimist Club of New Harbour Village,” McFarlane added. “They have provided us with paint and physical support with their volunteers.”

Paultston Francis, president of the Optimist Club of New Harbour Village, thanked the donors who he said jumped on board to support the cause to assist vulnerable youth. Donors included Tools Hardware, Gary Lewis, Alwyn Lynch, the Jamaica Public Service Company office in St Catherine, Donovan Cunningham, and Neville Royale.

At Matthew 2540 the boys were very excited about the plants and rabbits.

“Boys are boys and want to do more [physical] activities,” McFarlane said. “They are filling their rabbit cages and planting herbs and fruits. They are doing tomato, rosemary, corn, peppers, pumpkins, you name it. They are also going to be… growing sweet potato.”

He added that the activities at Matthew 2540 were made possible due to the support of volunteers like Volunteer Inc, and the Optimist Club of Barbican and Hope Gardens.

— Jason Cross

From left: Optimist Gayon Knight; Andre McFarlane, administrator of the Dare to Care programme run by the Mustard Seed Communities; president of the Optimist Club of Barbican Pines Carla Myrie; and president of the Optimist Club of Kingston, Dave Wilson, pause for a photo. 

Painting was done as part of beautification activities on Labour Day, Monday, at Dare to Care Home For Girls in St Catherine.