There is nothing worse than seeing a need and not being able to do something about it. Life is hard on a whole, but there are some realities in my homeland in Jamaica that make us want to do our part in bringing smiles to the faces of those who are living them.
For years, the nonprofit group Free Town Foundation, has been providing crucial services to those in need, thanks to the generosity of our partners over the years – both here in the United States and in Jamaica. But today, like many nonprofits, we face a troubling reality: donations are down, and one of our key programs, Holiday Hope, could use a big boost.
Holiday Hope is held every year on the last Friday before Christmas, where seniors and struggling single mothers are given bags of groceries that can last for a few days. On the same day, children are feted and given a gift at the end of the festivities.
Holiday Hope is near and dear to my heart because I know where I am coming from. Born and raised in Free Town, coming from a family sharing meals with six siblings, there were many tight days where my father, who was the sole breadwinner, had the challenge of keeping the wolf from the door.
We had it hard, but I had a front row view to those who had it even harder, some having to decide between bus fare for their children to go to school and having a meal. There were a lot of sacrifices.
Now living in Brooklyn, I have tried to give back in some small ways over the years, but this is, by extension, the foundation’s biggest effort at helping on a larger scale.
For the past few years we have managed to get by, but we now face the challenge of a drop in funding at a time when demand for our services have increased. More and more people are reaching out to us and as the countdown begins, we are already receiving queries regarding whether their names can make the list of those who will be receiving packages.
We believe the shortfall in our funding can be attributed to the broader economic climate, as well as the need for new donors, as over the years we have been turning to friends and relatives to assist in the venture.
Most of our faithful donors are now facing their own challenges with inflation taking a toll on their household finances, family obligations and some have lost their earning power.
Letters have been sent out to organizations for help, but competing with established U.S. nonprofits puts us at a disadvantage.
Over the years, the Free Town Foundation has worked very hard to ensure that donations are put to good use. So far more than 30 scholarships have been given, along with the school supplies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 20 students received computer tablets.
In August, we hosted a massive Back to School and Health Fair, where students received over 300 backpacks, school supplies, and free medical supplies. Members of the community also benefited from seeing doctors on-site and having their vitals checked free of charge.
As we look forward to our next core program in December, it is the hope that the season will bring its own miracle and happy ending. Please donate to our cause here.
Opal Thompson, a Brooklyn resident, is the chair of the programme committee of the nonprofit group Free Town Foundation.
