Who: The second largest international charity in the United States and Jamaica’s leading charity organization, Food for the Poor (FFP).

What: Presents the official launch and rededication of the Monica McKenzie Family Counseling Basic School. This follows its recent relocation and the construction of two new buildings inclusive of three classrooms, an office area, a kitchen and bathroom facilities built at a cost of close to J $2-million by FFP.

Where: Monica McKenzie Family Counseling Basic School
Cockburn Gardens
Kingston

When: Thursday, February 14, 2008 to commence at 10:30 a.m.

Background Information: Through monthly donations made in cash and in kind by Christos Ministries based in the United States, Food for the Poor has been providing ongoing funding for teachers’ salary at the Family Counseling Basic School for the past three years. Due to improper lighting, lack of space and security issues, the donors requested that the school be relocated to an area that is conducive to learning and will foster early childhood development. Food for the Poor is committed to those in need and responded to the request by constructing a new timber framed structure (36ft x 24ft) for the classroom space which includes a sick bay area and a kitchen compartment equipped with a gas stove, wash sink, cupboard and a refrigerator. The 60 enrolled students and four teachers will also benefit from the newly constructed sanitation block and office space (24ft x 18ft) including four toilets, three wash basins and one urinal. Food for the Poor also installed water intake lines and external drainage pipes connected to a newly constructed absorption pit. The structure, which is now located on the grounds of Cockburn Gardens Primary and Junior High School, was completed at a cost of J $1, 983, 296. 25. The school will be officially opened and rededicated under the name Monica McKenzie Family Counseling Basic School in honor of a member of Christos Ministries.

Food for the Poor: Food for the Poor, (FFP) ministers to spiritually renew impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1982, our goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children we serve. Since its founding, FFP has distributed more than US$2.3 billion in food, medical, educational, building and small business supplies to 16 countries in the Caribbean and Central America. The organisation maintains a large network of churches, hospitals, orphanages, schools and feeding programmes, and shipped over 5,000 containers of assistance to the area in 2005. In addition to the feeding programmes, FFP provides housing – over 33,000 homes have been given to the destitute. FFP also provides medical assistance, water projects, educational aid, microenterprise programmes and emergency relief assistance. For additional information visit: www.foodforthepoor.org., or call 984-5005 Ext 286/287or 382-7135.