We have a new look!!

Our website has been redesigned and updated, thanks to the talents and tireless efforts of FOJ supporters Glenn McBride, Christine Bouchard-Strutz and her husband Al Strutz. It was a big job, but I am very excited about the results. Please take a look at www.friendsofjamaicausa.org and give us your feedback.

Please take our poll on the main page when you visit.

I would like to draw your attention to two projects that need your help - Happy Hearts School and Little London High School.  Happy Hearts has a very immediate need while Little London is more of an ongoing project that we hope to complete later this year.

Many of you are familiar with Happy Hearts from past FOJ efforts with the school after Hurricane Ivan.  I also know many of you have taken school supplies to them (or similar schools) and were greeted by the warm smiles of the very young children.  You, like me, were probably also impressed with the manners, discipline, and dedication to learning these young students show.  Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education requires a fence for Happy Hearts for the safety of the children.  The school is located in an open area behind the Police Station in Negril. There is constant foot traffic past the school so it is difficult to keep the very young children safe. Estimates for the fence are being finalized but should be around US $3000. Miss Clarke, the principal of Happy Hearts is confident she can raise some of the money but has asked for our help.  I would like to raise at least $1000 to be donated toward the cost of the fence, more if possible.  Please visit our Happy Hearts page to read about FOJ's support of this school. It would be a shame if these eager children had no place to learn!

The second, even bigger, project is at Little London High School talked about in our January Newsletter. Further details can be found at our Little London page. So far, we have had excellent response on that effort.  One group in Canada is gathering sewing machines, blenders, and mixers and will be shipping them directly to Jamaica.  FOJ will assist with clearance of the items through customs.  Another group of supporters in the US is gathering other items for the school, mainly in support of the woodworking and metal works departments.   We will be combining these donations with additional items for other projects including a transport incubator for Sav Hospital, medical textbooks, and 200 glucose testing meters donated by a pharmaceutical company.   We will need to ship all of this to Florida where Food for the Poor will provide free shipping to Jamaica.  Both groups are also raising money to help cover the shipping expenses or to meet some of the other needs of Little London.  In addition to the equipment being gathered, an estimated $12,000 is needed to meet all of this school's needs.  As I said, this is a large project, and with the response we have already received and your continued support I firmly believe we can help the students at Little London High School.  Let's all help these young adults learn a useful skill!

As you can see, we need money to accomplish our goals for FOJ in 2007. In addition to donations of money, you can buy Kids Cards at KidsCards. These make nice hostess or thank you gifts, cards to write thank you notes, or to write a quick message to someone. This will be the last printing of these cards, so order yours today!

Marcia Burke, Director