Community
Jamaica Diaspora Association Bahamas ends year of giving on a high note
By Felicity Darville
Dec 12, 2019 - 11:40:12 AM

Giving wheelchairs to Sandiland's Rehabilitation Centre

Nassau, Bahamas - All year, members of the Jamaica Diaspora Association Bahamas (JDAB) have banded together to give to the community in meaningful ways, and Christmas is no exception. They wanted to end the year on a high note, after hosting successful "give back" events from the year began.

JDAB's most recent effort involved providing wheelchairs for Sandiland's Rehabilitation Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital. Their wheelchair project resulted in 25 new wheelchairs for PMH and 5 for Sandiland's Geriatric Ward. The wheelchairs were a welcome gift, especially for the hospital, which is known for having a shortage of wheelchairs.

Providing breakfast for students at Palmdale Primary

It's an important part of fulfilling their motto to "inspire humanity by diving into service". Their mission is to "create a better world through love and kindness for the benefit of humankind". JDAB has been actively engaged in the Bahamian community for years. Members celebrate their unique culture and heritage with Bahamian residents and the wider diaspora by giving back.

Just weeks ago, they visited the home of 95 year-old Mrs Iris Barnett, a nation builder in the field of healthcare, as a part of their "Forgotten Heroes" programme. In October, children from the Nazareth Centre received grocery and essential needs as a part of their "Children's Home" programme in partnership with Cash N' Go. They did the same at the Children's Emergency Hostel this past May.  In the summer, members spent two days providing lunch for kids attending the Royal Bahamas Police Force NorthEastern Division summer camp. After Hurricane Dorian, the group moved quickly to gather supplies and essentials and visit storm survivors at the shelter to show love and encouragement.

All throughout this year and last year, JDAB made it a point to visit as many schools as possible at least once, providing the students with a hot, healthy breakfast while sharing words of wisdom and big smiles. This year, schools included Uriah McPhee, Woodcock Primary, Columbus Primary and Palmdale Primary schools. In this way, thousands of children were fed as JDAB partnered with BTC, Pheonix Supermarket and Liquid Fruits Bahamas. Other partners participating in these and other community service projects included: Pepper n Spice restaurant, Omni Money Transfer, Milo Butler Distributors, Insurance Company of the West Indies, Ports International and Nubian Kween entertainment.

Giving back to the Nazareth Centre

Serving breakfast at SC McPherson Junior High

Visiting survivors of Hurricane Dorian and providing essentials

Providing breakfast for students at Anatol Rodgers High School

Princess Margaret Hospital received 25 wheelchairs from JDAB

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