Atlanta Residents Rally to Build a Village in Jamaica
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 26, 2011) — Philanthropic residents and sponsors unite to host the fourth annual Atlanta Food For The Poor event, Dreams Across the Sea this Saturday, at The Westin Buckhead Hotel. Proceeds from this year’s event will build a self-sustaining community in McCooks Pen, St. Catherine, Jamaica.
The need for safe housing in McCooks Pen is critical. Children in this community are frequently sick due to poor living conditions. |
“It’s a delight to partner with Food For The Poor in this event for Jamaica, as we bring focus to reducing poverty and creating possibilities for the poor and disadvantaged,” said committee member Garvin Steward. “Through our obedience to the teachings of Christ their needs will be met, they will be overwhelmed with joy, and they will express their thanks and praise to God.”
The McCooks Pen Community Development project will fund the cost of 25 two-room permanent homes with access to clean water and sanitation for destitute residents who currently live in dilapidated shacks made of corrugated zinc with dirt floors. The entire community will benefit from the community center and the agriculture and animal husbandry projects. These projects will provide villagers with a subsidiary income and much needed nutrition.
“The reason I am involved with this event is multifaceted,” said co-chairperson Sylvia McClure. “I truly believe in the work that Food For The Poor is doing and the impact that it has on so many families. Furthermore, I was really impressed with how quickly the project last year was completed with the accountability of all funds.”
The evening will include live entertainment, a silent auction, dancing, and a memorable dinner with friends. Bidding on silent auction prizes such as exclusive art and collectibles from the Caribbean and Latin America, designer jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages offer opportunities for guests to shop and donate to the cause.
To earn some money this little girl sells fruit by the roadside in McCooks Pen. |
For additional information regarding the Dreams Across the Sea event, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $125 per person, please call, 1-888-404-4248.
Masters of ceremonies, Atlanta’s 104.7 The FISH morning team hosts Kevin Avery and Taylor Scott, have traveled with Food For The Poor on mission trips to Jamaica and Haiti. At the event they will share a few of their personal travel experiences and introduce a documentary that was recently filmed in one of the poorest parts of Jamaica, McCooks Pen.
In the video Pastor Keith Pitt says, “I believe once you get people empowered, they will be able to help others.”
Dreams Across the Sea Co-Chairpersons are Sylvia McClure and Dr. Jason Regis. Additional committee members include Kathy Murphy, Carolyn Shadeed, Nawal Shadeed, Arlene Smith, Garvin Steward, and Michelle Wattley. Event sponsors are AT&T and Toca Enterprises, Ltd.
Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.
For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Contact:
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
[email protected]