Volunteer at St. Anthony's or donate?

[VVHT]

Will be down in June and wanted to know if Fr. Jim/ St. Anthony's would prefer donation or volunteer time?

VVHT

[gailnegril]

Both

[Momthor3]

You need to visit the amazing ladies at St Anthonys and see and feel the love there!!!!! They are so appreciative of your time and help..... and I agree with Gail=both!!

[VVHT]

What type of activities can you volunteer to do at St. Anthony's? I read about dish washing, anything else? My GF and I can wash dishes, no problem, her kids, well they prefer to load the dishwasher!!

Thanks,

Pau

[dash]

Boy am I gonna get flak with this one. $. A preferred cycle would see a local community member peeling veg and doing dishes, paid by donations. The salary would echo through the community. I wonder sometimes what the kids see when foreign tourists come for a morning bearing gifts or candy and giving out hugs, only to leave and a new face appear the next day. I wonder which one benefits most with that scenario? I don't know the most efficient way to disburse charity. But most solutions are grown locally. Unless you have a special skill, teaching (not English as a second language), medical, Vet science, engineering, sports therapy etc. I think dollars and responsible tourism are preferred.

[Accompong]

Boy am I gonna get flak with this one. $. A preferred cycle would see a local community member peeling veg and doing dishes, paid by donations. The salary would echo through the community. I wonder sometimes what the kids see when foreign tourists come for a morning bearing gifts or candy and giving out hugs, only to leave and a new face appear the next day. I wonder which one benefits most with that scenario? I don't know the most efficient way to disburse charity. But most solutions are grown locally. Unless you have a special skill, teaching (not English as a second language), medical, Vet science, engineering, sports therapy etc. I think dollars and responsible tourism are preferred.

In general, I sort of agree with this as giving funds to assist qualified people to appropriately target the most urgent needs is best but.....

Let's not minimize the face-to-face show of caring that foreign tourists project when they take the time to visit and to help as well. I am not the mushy type that brings a lot of gifts and candy but I do my little part assisting the children of my hometown to have a better life. I could (and sometimes do) just give money for the school breakfast program to feed needy kids but I also like to give directly to some worthy students whom I have observed having a rougher than usual life both economically and emotionally.

Think carefully about the "gifts" you bring. The more you can give then give but if you are limited to what you can contribute then give some money and some time too.

It does everyone some good to know that someone cares about them.

Peace and Guidance.

[kaycee]

Both are appreciated, but I'm sure the donation will go further.

[mamade11]

both we went down with a bunch of school supplies, and brought them over early one morning and helped peel vegetables. I really enjoyed my time
there.

[amele7]

We just volunteered there last week during our trip and we helped serve lunch the day we were there. It was a great experience. They also collect money which they use to help pay school fees for the kids whose families cannot afford it. School in Jamaica is only free until the 6th grade. I would suggest doing both! And/or bring school supplies, I wish I had known prior as they collect backpacks, crayons, pencils, etc and give out to the kids. They serve lunch daily M-F and breakfast to the kids in the mornings M-F.