‘I just want to help’
Michelle Gordon said she didn’t have to think twice about the opportunity to serve as Food For the Poor’s latest goodwill ambassador.
Gordon, the CEO of BossMom Network — a community of mothers in business who help other mothers in business and in need — said after partnering with Food For the Poor (FFP) to gift houses and well-needed items to three mothers recently, her willingness to help more people strengthened.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the programme we did this year for Mother’s Day. It was really fulfilling on top of the fact that we got to really help. It was life-changing for the three mothers, it was also a coming together of my peers and colleagues and other mothers in my community who were able to jump on board,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observer.
She said while she enjoys assisting others to achieve a better life for their families, she is mostly looking forward to providing houses for mothers.
“FFP provides homes for a lot of people, but for me, as a parenting consultant, someone who works with children, I find that when a mother is happy, when her needs are met, it’s easier for her to parent very well,” she said.
“The experience as an ambassador is about doing more. What FFP does is incredibly amazing. If I do it and can influence others and they can go out and influence others, we can provide the much-needed help. There are hundreds more that need homes… I just want to be part of the solution to help,” Gordon said.
Marsha Burrell-Rose, FFP’s development and marketing manager, explained that Gordon has proven to be a servant of the people.
“She basically came to a housing project that we were doing and just by volunteering her time she realised how impactful it was in terms of getting involved to help build, and she did her own fund-raising and donated these houses for these families. Because of the passion that she has and the love, we decided that Michelle is just an amazing person to help get the message out as to who we are and what we do,” Burrell-Rose said.
She expressed pleasure that Gordon will be joining other goodwill ambassadors such as Olympian and 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake, Jamaican international footballer Leon Bailey, as well as Olympian and 2019 Pan American Games champion Natoya Goule.
“Those persons have always been there and have been helping us. Michelle shows that she really and truly cares and loves the people of Jamaica and [she has a] passion to help those in need,” Burrell-Rose added.
Gordon, in the meantime, said she will work with FFP to locate more people in need.
— Brittny Hutchinson