‘I’m not alone’
ONE month after fire destroyed Latoya Maithland’s house in Bell Rock off Olympic Way in St Andrew she is still having sleepless nights.
But yesterday Maithland and her three sons, who have been staying with a neighbour since the fire, saw a glimmer of hope when four children who are visiting the island surprised her with clothes, stationery, toys, and money to purchase food items.
The children, who are from Orlando, Florida, were accompanied by their parents and aunts for the handover shortly after midday.
“I give God thanks that somebody out there remembers me… More time I have family, but I feel all alone, but mi a give God thanks that somebody remember me. Mi just a give him thanks for that and give them thanks and make God bless them,” Maithland cried.
“Mi feel better. Knowing that you would have your house you would be more comfortable, but mi a give God thanks. I really nuh good enuh, but mi live fi see Christmas so me a give God thanks same way,” the mother of three told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.
The surprise visit was orchestrated by 16-year-old Shanelle White, her sisters Samara, 14, and Shania, 11, and their cousin Malik Alli, 13.
Weeks after the story ‘Eight children among Olympic Gardens fire victims’ was published by the Observer, the children, through one of their aunts who resides in Jamaica, contacted the newspaper expressing an interest in helping the affected children.
The children were among eight families that were left homeless, commanding officer for the St Andrew Division Superintendent Gary Francis reported last month.
Francis, who said then that residents heard explosions, saw fire coming from the houses and alerted the police, had made an appeal for people with information that could assist the investigation to call 813 or 119.
The other five children have since left the Olympic Gardens community so the Observer has been unable to contact them.
The youngsters told the Observer yesterday that their donations were not enough, but they thought it was fitting to give back to children who are less fortunate.
“…Knowing that I have more opportunities than they do, it would be nice to give back at least a little bit to say that, ‘I know that I could give someone something that I wouldn’t think would be a lot, but to them it could mean the world,’ because in America there are a lot of stuff that we don’t value because we have so much of it; it’s not even something that comes to our mind that someone might not have a pencil to write with, or shoes to wear, even a top to wear that is not even torn up or something. Plus I know that if I need clothes I can just go to the store, or I can just look in the back of my closet for clothes that I don’t even wear, and they are there,” Shanelle said.
In the same breath, she said her parents, who are both from Jamaica, would give them a reality check whenever they start complaining about not having enough clothes.
“It is sad to think that we are always complaining about what we don’t have when we have so much compared to other people,” she continued.
With the foundation already laid by the 16-year-old, Samara, Shania and Malik also joined in.
They, too, were overcome with joy as they watched the faces of Demarco, 6, Raheem, 8, and Jaheem, 10, light up yesterday when they received the items.
The three boys were very grateful.
“Thank you,” they said before opening their toys.