By Carlena Knight (Adapted from The Daily Observer on 18th June 2020)
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the daily routines of the public, one thing that was highlighted even more was the economic and physical needs of the less fortunate across the island.
Because of those needs, it was business as usual for the Villa Seventh-day Adventist Community Services department which is known for its charitable work in its surrounding villages.
To date, the department has successfully hosted two distributions, one for the community and the other for church members. A combined total of 57 packages, which included dry food and toiletries, were distributed.
Periodic soup kitchens and Sunday morning breakfasts were also conducted in the surrounding villages of Yorks, Villa, Fort Road, Gambles and Point.
Plans are also being put in place to host their quarterly clothes distributions.
According to Head of the department, Mrs. Verlyn Miller, “Not even COVID could stop us from continuing God’s work in assisting His people.”
Community Services was not the only department at the Villa Adventist Church to give a helping hand; the Adventist Youth (AY) department stepped forward in a major way in making a donation to the Adele School.
On March 23rd, the Villa AY Leadership engaged the principal of the Adele School, Ms. Andrea Richards, where she shared her concerns about the wellbeing of her students during the lockdown.
It was then that AY decided to use part of their allocated budget to assist, and on May 11th, after navigating through stringent lockdown protocols, the AY Ministry was finally able to present to Ms. Richards and deputy principal, Mrs. Jacqueline Joseph, 24 ‘AY Care’ packages.
These packages were filled with food and personal care items. Each package was submitted with adult, children and youth quarterlies as well.
Ms. Richards and Mrs. Joseph expressed profound gratitude to the Pastor, AY leader and church for the gesture, and assured the AY officials that the gifts would go a very long way in helping families and students of the school.
Villa means home, and it is evident that the members of this church are motivated to take care of their brothers and sisters. After all, John Bunyan, a famous author and Puritan preacher said it best, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”