Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
THE SPIRIT of Christmas is alive and well in Portland.
Doubt it? Just check out the case of Angella Melbourne, a visually impaired mother of four, who recently received a pre-Christmas Day gift that would make Santa Claus himself green with envy when she was handed keys to a newly-constructed house at Hectors River in Portland.
The house was constructed by the Returning Residents' Association.
Before receiving the gift, the woman seemed to have hit a patch of bad luck as she first lost her sight in 2000. Her husband died in 2003, and then, the coup de grace, her family house was destroyed by fire in 2004.
She collected the keys to her own home from Percival LaTouche, president of the Returning Residents' Association, last Friday.
GRATITUDE
In a short speech, Mr. LaTouche expressed gratitude to Food For the Poor, the National Commercial Bank, Kensales, the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited and the Returning Residents' Association, who contributed towards the construction of the house. These stakeholders have also undertaken five similar projects in the Hectors River area.
"I was grieved when I learnt about her plight," Mr. LaTouche said. "She was been forced to sleep just about anywhere a roof was available, and I took it on myself to see what assistance could be given to her and her children."
The children, aged three, eight, 11 and 13 years, will also benefit from a queen-size bed to be donated by Courts Jamaica Limited. The building site for the house was donated by a local resident.
PRAYED FOR ASSISTANCE
Ms. Melbourne said that following the loss of her sight and then her husband's death, she started praying every day for assistance, as she was unable to work and provide food for her family.
According to the woman, when her house was destroyed by fire last year, "all hope was lost" as other family members had seemingly forgot about her. However, her prayers were answered in mid-2005 when she was introduced to Mr. LaTouche, who immediately promised to seek help for her and the children.
"We could never have got a better Christmas present. Now we are able to shelter from the cold nights and rain," an elated Ms. Melbourne said.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Construction on the building started in October, and young men from the Hectors River community volunteered and assisted with the workload, which was completed last Thursday, at a cost of over $390,000, inclusive of labour and material costs.
It was the second such house to have been donated since 2005 in that area. In September, a one-bedroom house was donated to a homeless couple at Barracks by Mr. LaTouche, with the assistance of Food For the Poor which provided building materials.
