St Thomas mom receives home for the holidays as belated birthday gift

At 56, Margaret Green carries the weight of her family’s needs while navigating a life shaped by trials and triumphs. Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Food for the Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and the Desnoes & Geddes (D&G) Foundation, she is embracing a life-changing gift: a new home in Albion, St Thomas.

This gift comes just in time for Christmas and days after her December birthday, marking a turning point for her and her family of nine.

For the past 23 years, Margaret, her husband, two daughters, and five grandchildren have lived in a dilapidated two-room wooden structure. The cramped quarters are a far cry from comfortable living, with belongings stacked precariously, cooking done on a coal stove outdoors, and an outdated pit latrine serving as their bathroom.

New homeowner Margaret Green (left) beams with joy as she receives the keys to her new home from Totlyn Brown-Robb, D&G Foundation Administrator, marking a fresh start for her family this Christmas, courtesy of the D&G Foundation and Food for the Poor Jamaica.

“I was in a desperate situation, praying for a miracle before the end of the year because I was evicted from my home [for the past two decades] and needed to move out by December. To be honest, words can’t explain how excited I am that I got a new home before the year ended. The old place would always leak when it rained and it was very small for the nine of us. I didn’t want things to get worse,” Margaret said candidly.

“We had to bathe outside and I was very uncomfortable. I did not feel like I had any privacy. So I am extremely grateful for an inside bathroom in this new home.”

Margaret’s current challenges are a continuation of a life marked by resilience. Undeterred, however, she charted an unconventional path, taking on jobs ranging from street vending to construction work, where she mixed cement and laid blocks alongside her male counterparts. Growing up in Seven Miles, she learned to adapt to adversity from a young age. With limited resources, she dreamt of becoming a nurse but lacked the financial support to pursue her passion.

Since she could not afford university to study to become a registered nurse, she enrolled at Runaway Bay HEART Academy to pursue practical nursing, setting the foundation for a career she loved. She is now a Practical Nurse at Bustamante Hospital for Children, where she has been for over a decade. Despite her hard work, financial setbacks—including the loss of her grocery shop business during the COVID-19 pandemic—left her struggling to provide for her family. Margaret had borrowed over a million dollars in loans to invest into the business that subsequently failed.

Volunteers from Food For The Poor Jamaica and the Desnoes and Geddes Foundation construct a house for Margaret Green in Albion, St Thomas.

In spite of this, she recently used the remaining funds to start construction on a home on leased land, but the structure remains incomplete, with only ply and zinc covering its skeletal frame. So, being gifted for the Christmas holiday is like a star atop the tree—something she truly needed to brighten her journey and outshine some of the challenges she’s faced. On a December morning, volunteers from Food for the Poor and the D&G Foundation went to Albion, St. Thomas to build a sturdy home for Margaret and her family. For a woman who has given so much of herself, this moment symbolises the recognition of her perseverance and an opportunity to rebuild a house in addition to a life filled with renewed hope.

“This is the best gift I could ever receive. I’ve prayed for a better life for my family, and now I finally see it coming true,” Margaret shared, expressing her immense gratitude.

The D&G Foundation’s partnership with Food for the Poor Jamaica has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable families, providing the foundation for a better tomorrow. This collaboration has delivered four homes to underserved families across Jamaica, bringing the year to a close with Margaret Green’s story of transformation. Together, the organisations have combined resources, manpower, and compassion to tackle the pressing issue of inadequate housing, ensuring that each family gifted a home is given not just shelter but a chance to thrive.

“This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to creating meaningful change and uplifting families in need. Our team, alongside Food for the Poor Jamaica, travelled to St. Thomas and built this home with our own hands — a true demonstration of commitment to growing with communities. We commend FFPJ for their relentless efforts in transforming lives, and together while providing shelter, we’re building hope, dignity, and brighter futures for generations to come,” said D&G Foundation Director Dianne Ashton-Smith.