Vermont Murray (right), and caretaker Charles Foresythe, of the Good Samaritan Inn, are pictured in this 2008 photograph. - FILE
On Sunday, June 8, last year, The Gleaner published an article titled, 'Good Samaritan Inn feeding the indigent'. In part, it said, 'Vermont Murray, who manages the programme, says the Good Samaritan Inn is 'an outreach project sponsored by the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist and the Adventists Services and Industries (ASI), a group of committed Christian businessmen, who joined together to sponsor a programme in which needy people in the community can get lunch and a bath".
In response, some organisations wrote to offer their assistance. One such organisation, the Kiwanis Club in Miami, through its president-designate, Caroline Raffinton, said: "Thank you for sharing the story about the good work the Good Samaritan Inn is doing to benefit the needy. I would like to coordinate a donation of toilet paper and soap. Please send me the contact information for the person in charge of this project."
Good Samaritan
Now, the Kiwanis Club of Kendall/South Dade, Florida will be in Jamaica from April 4-11 to spearhead a number of activities and projects as a result of the contact made. In a recent email, the club's president wrote, "Your wonderful story about the Good Samaritan Inn sparked the organisation of our first humanitarian mission to Jamaica. We have been working very closely with the Good Samaritan Inn and have scheduled a feeding as our first project for the week of April 5-11.
The group arrived in Kingston on Saturday and held the first activities of its itinerary yesterday.
paul.williams@gleanerjm.com
The mission's itinerary:
Sunday, April 5
Worship service - Missionaries of the Poor - Father Ho Lung's Church, Bethel Chapel, 34-36 Higholborn St, Kingston, at 10 a.m.
Joint project with the Seventh-day Adventists/ASI), Good Samaritan Inn, old Stanley Motta building, National Heroes Circle, at 1 p.m.
Welcome reception, at 7 p.m.
Monday, April 6
Missionaries of the Poor (Three sites), 34-36 Higholborn St, at 8 a.m.
Dental clinic
Medical clinic (Jamaica Nurses Association of Florida)
Bethel Children's Home
Tuesday, April 7
Best Care Children's Home, at 9 a.m.
Miracle Basic School (joint project with Kiwanis Club of Mona), at 11a.m.
Missionaries of the Poor Children's Home, at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8
Beth Salem Home for the Aged (joint project with Kiwanis Club of Pinecrest/Palmetto Bay), at 9 a.m.
Red Hills Golden Age Hall (joint project with Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew), at 10 a.m.
Red Hills Basic School (joint project with Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew), at 1 p.m.
Interclub with Kiwanis Club of Mona, at 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 9
Rocky Point Community (joint project with Jamaica Nurses Association of Florida), 8 a.m.
May Pen Hospital (joint project with KC of May Pen), at 1 p.m.
Interclub with Kiwanis Club of Meadowvale, Altamont Court Hotel, at 7 p.m.
Good Friday, April 10
Harrison Home for the Aged (joint project with Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew), at 10 a.m.
Saturday, April 11
Mustard Seed Children's Homes (joint project with Kiwanis Club of Meadowvale), Spanish Town, at 10 a.m.