Advertising jingles and sale frenzies often fuel holiday materialism and distract from the true meaning of Christmas - giving to others.
Here is a listing of organisations across the island that private citizens and businesses can transform with money, supplies and time. You can make a difference!
Hanover
West Haven Children's Home cares for mentally and physically challenged kids aged six to 31.
Merdella Grant, administrator, said children would be heartened by increased visits by relatives but often philanthropists are welcome.
West Haven is requesting gift givers to donate extra large pampers for toddlers and medium adult sizes for older children; wheelchairs, clothing and toiletries.
The grounds are in desperate need of proper landscaping and the driveway requires paving.
West Haven Children's
Home, Copse, Tel 956-4912
St James
The Family and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay, St James, imparts parenting skills and hosts educational workshops for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The centre, which also caters to 300 registered children, treats both children and adults who suffer from depression as well as violence-related trauma.
Family and Parenting Centre is appealing for funds to pay staffers, as well as supplies like bags, clothes, shoes, foodstuff and toys.
It is also soliciting HIV/AIDS medication and subsidies for individuals, funds for HIV/AIDS-infected persons with children, and input from family therapists.
Family and Parenting Centre
16 East Street, MoBay
Tel 952-4603, 971-4484
Trelawny
The Trelawny Infirmary has 60 residents, many of whom battle ailments such as cancer and diabetes, as well as mental illnesses.
The organisation has one dysfunctional ward and lacks vital medical supplies.
Icy Allen, matron, told Saturday Life that the infirmary needs more persons to come in and socialise with residents to lift their spirits.
The infirmary's capacity could be boosted with donations of computers, wheelchairs, solar water heater, refri-gerator, deep freeze, industrial pressure cooker, iron, dryer and utensils.
Trelawny Infirmary
5 Rodney Street, Falmouth,
Trelawny, Tel 954-3573
Officials have also requested clothing, toiletries, paint, decorations, a lawnmower and Christmas tree.
St Ann
Rosebelle Clarke, practical nurse at the St Ann Infirmary, said though church groups and others give assistance, more needs to be done to make life comfortable for the residents, whose ages range from 18 to 90.
Make this Christmas memorable for them by donating wheelchairs, computers, bed linen, sheets, blankets, pillows, refrigerator and an air-conditioning unit for the conference room.
St Ann Infirmary
Main Street, Priory,
Tel 972-1178
St Mary
Why not drop in at Health Professional Clinic and Nursing Home and cheer up the 22 elderly residents aged 51 to 103.
Nurse Valerie Ellis told Saturday Life that staff, comprising eight nurses and five ward maids, need all the help they can get. Their refurbishing wish list includes a living room suite, outdoor chairs and other furniture, cupboards and a washing machine.
Health Professional
Clinic and Nursing Home
Main Street, Highgate,
992-2846
Portland
Elderly residents served by the Portland Poor Relief Department are never tired of receiving amiable visitors eager to render assistance.
Michael Morris, secretary/manager at the Portland Parish Council, is appealing for assistance from corporate Jamaica and community stakeholders to construct a new building to facilitate more philanthropic visits.
Open your heart and pocketbook and donate.
Portland Poor Relief
14 West Street,
Port Antonio
Tel. 993-2703
Westmoreland
Many of the 89 clients of the Westmoreland Association for Street People's Shelter and Infirmary hardly received family visits this year but service clubs and churches gave support.
Beryl Johnson, head of the facilities, and nurse Carol Johnson said a staff shortage limits proper oversight and some residents wander off the compound.
Officials praise the efforts of Sandals Resorts and other entities which give assistance, but urge more Jamaicans to pitch in.
The philanthropic shelter is in need of ward assistants and a laundress, and equipment, such as an industrial washing machine and lawnmower. Adult pampers, male shoes and a deep freeze are also on the wish list. A daytime security guard is also required.
Westmoreland Association for Street People
& Infirmary, Dunbar River, Sav-la-Mar
Tel. 955-9374
St Mary
Why not drop in at Health Professionals Clinic and Nursing Home and cheer up the 22 elderly residents, aged from 51-103.
Nurse Valerie Ellis told Saturday Life that staff, comprising eight nurses and five ward maids, need all the help they can get. Their refurbishing wish list includes a living room suite, outdoor chairs and other furniture, cupboards and a washing machine.
Clarendon
The Clarendon Association for Street People has been operating for 10 years, and currently houses 20 residents.
Ray Wilson, board member, told Saturday Life there are very few individuals in Jamaica who have a passion for persons with mental-health issues. The group mainly depends on help from volunteers.
Chief projects are the expansion of toilet facilities and construction of a new kitchen. Share Yuletide cheer by donating foodstuff, cleansers (bleach, etc.), toiletries, money, or muscle power.
Portland
Elderly residents served by the Portland Poor Relief Department are never tired of receiving amiable visitors eager to render assistance.
Michael Morris, secretary/manager at the Portland Parish Council, is appealing for assistance from corporate Jamaica and community stakeholders to construct a new building to facilitate more philanthropic visits.
Open your heart and pocketbook and donate food, sheets, pillows and construction material such as zinc and plywood.
St Thomas
Though residents from as far as St Ann occasionally visit the St Thomas Infirmary, the elderly there are always happy to swap smiles with new friends.
Matron Avis Davis encourages service clubs and other charity groups to interact with the infirmary's 110 residents more frequently.
Come with cash or kind and make a difference. On the infirmary's Christmas list are washing machine, industrial stove, dryers, bushwhacker, deep freeze, stuffed toys, dominoes, and material to make cushions.
Manchester
Despite the easygoing mood of this rustic Manchester community, Snowden All-Age School has its fair share of daily challenges.
Angela Thomas, the headmistress, said the five staffers are pulling out all the stops to spread Christmas merriment to the 104 students there, singing carols and creating a vibe.
Play your part. The school needs perimeter fencing, flush toilets instead of pit units, and 12 more computers. The institution also wants to recruit a guidance counsellor and secretary.
St Andrew
The Salvation Army Nest Children's Home caters to 20 children aged nine to 18 years.
According to Major Beverley Scarlett, many of the charges have nowhere to go when they turn 18.
Contributions to this venerable institution will make a tremendous impact. Search your closet for those well-conditioned clothes you haven't worn for months and probably won't wear again and give them to folks who actually need them.
The home is also in need of a washing machine, generator, computers, pots, pans and utensils.
St Catherine
The St Catherine Poor Relief Department mainly attends to the needs of elderly clients but is also benefactor to destitute children.
Yvonne Mitchell, inspector of the poor, told Saturday Life that the lead-up to Christmas has been testing. A special dinner slated for next Friday had to be rescheduled for December 19 because of financial constraints.
Put a smile on the faces of the children by preparing a surprise package of pampers, foodstuff, lunch money and bus fare. Building repairs are also needed.
St Elizabeth
The tranquil surroundings of the St Elizabeth Infirmary are ideal for for most of its 66 residents, a few of whom participate in recreational activities like farming.
Matron Joycelyn Bryan said she wants the compound to be in tip-top shape, but cash-flow problems are limiting the infirmary's ability to aid the destitute. However, church groups occasionally pray for residents and others pop in to spend quality time.
On its holiday wish list is a computer, industrial weed whacker, and fencing. Other major projects for which it is seeking assistance is construction of an administrative block and refurbishing of a dining and recreational room.
St James
The Family and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay, St James, imparts parenting skills and hosts educational workshops for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The centre, which also caters to 300 registered children, treats both children and adults who suffer from depression as well as violence-related trauma.
Family and Parenting Centre is appealing for funds to pay staffers, as well as supplies like bags, clothes, shoes, foodstuff and toys.
It is also soliciting HIV/AIDS medication and subsidies for individuals; funds for HIV/AIDS-infected persons with children; and input from family therapists
Hanover
West Haven Children's Home cares for mentally and physically challenged kids aged six to 31.
Merdella Grant, administrator, said children would be heartened by increased visits by relatives but philanthropists in general are welcome.
West Haven is requesting gift givers to donate extra large pampers for toddlers and medium adult sizes for older children; wheelchairs, clothing and toiletries.
The grounds are in desperate need of proper landscaping and the driveway requires paving.
Westmoreland
Many of the 89 clients of the Westmoreland Association for Street People's shelter and infirmary hardly received family visits this year but service clubs and churches gave support.
Beryl Johnson, head of the facilities, and nurse Carol Johnson said a staff shortage limits proper oversight and some residents wander off the compound.
Officials praise the efforts of Sandals Resorts and other entities which give assistance, but urge more Jamaicans to pitch in.
The philanthropic shelter is in need of ward assistants and a laundress, and equipment such as an industrial washing machine and lawnmower. Adult pampers, male shoes and a deep freeze are also on the wish list. A daytime security guard is also required.
And because it's the holidays, make their day with decorations and a Christmas tree! Give 'em a hand!
Trelawny
The Trelawny Infirmary has 60 residents, many of whom battle ailments such as cancer and diabetes, as well as mental illnesses.
The organisation has one dysfunctional ward and lacks vital medical supplies.
Icy Allen, matron, told Saturday Life that the infirmary needs more persons to come in and socialise with residents to lift their spirits.
The infirmary's capacity could be boosted with donations of computers, wheelchairs, solar water heater, refrigerator, deep freeze, industrial pressure cooker, iron, dryer and utensils.
Officials have also requested clothing, toiletries, paint, decorations, a lawnmower and Christmas tree.
St Ann
Rosebelle Clarke, practical nurse at the St Ann Infirmary, told Saturday Life that though church groups and others give assistance, more needs to be done to make life comfortable for the residents, whose ages range from 18 to 90.
Make this Christmas memorable for them by donating wheelchairs, computers, bed linen, sheets, blankets, pillows, refrigerator and an air-conditioning unit for the conference room.
St Elizabeth
The tranquil surroundings of the St Elizabeth Infirmary are ideal for for most of its 66 residents, a few of whom participate in recreational activities like farming.
Matron Joycelyn Bryan said she wants the compound to be in tip-top shape, but cash-flow problems are limiting the infirmary's ability to aid the destitute. However, church groups occasionally pray for residents and others pop in to spend quality time.
On its holiday wish list is a computer, industrial weed whacker and fencing. Other major projects for which it is seeking assistance is construction of an administrative block and refurbishing of a dining and recreational room.
St Elizabeth Infirmary
Institution Drive, Santa Cruz
Tel. 966-2276
Manchester
Despite the easy-going mood of this rustic Manchester community, Snowden All-Age School has its fair share of daily challenges.
Angela Thomas, the headmistress, said the five staffers are pulling out all the stops to spread Christmas merriment to the 104 students there, singing carols and creating a vibe.
Play your part. The school needs perimeter fencing, flush toilets instead of pit units and 12 more computers. The institution also wants to recruit a guidance counsellor and secretary.
Snowden All-Age School
in Manchester
Snowden, Newport,
Tel 965-7214
Clarendon
The Clarendon Association for Street People has been operating for 10 years, and currently houses 20 residents.
Ray Wilson, board member, told Saturday Life there are very few individuals in Jamaica who have a passion for persons with mental-health issues. The group mainly depends on help from volunteers.
Chief projects are the expansion of toilet facilities and construction of a new kitchen. Share Yuletide cheer by donating foodstuff, cleansers (bleach, etc), toiletries, money or muscle power.
The Clarendon Association
for Street People
Hill Top, May Pen,
Tel 986-6902
St Catherine
The St Catherine Poor Relief Department mainly attends to the needs of elderly clients but is also benefactor to destitute children.
Yvonne Mitchell, inspector of the poor, told Saturday Life that the lead-up to Christmas has been testing. A special dinner slated for next Friday had to be rescheduled for December 19 because of financial constraints.
Put a smile on the faces of the children by preparing a surprise package of pampers, foodstuff, lunch money and bus fare. Building repairs are also needed.
St Catherine Poor Relief
Emancipation Square,
Spanish Town Tel 749-2132
St Thomas
Though residents from as far as St Ann occasionally visit the St Thomas Infirmary, the elderly there are always happy to swap smiles with new friends.
Matron Avis Davis encourages service clubs and other charity groups to interact with the infirmary's 110 residents more frequently.
Come with cash or kind and make a difference. On the infirmary's Christmas list are washing machine, industrial stove, dryers, bushwhacker, deep freeze, stuffed toys, dominoes and material to make cushions.
St Thomas Infirmary
11 Church Street, Morant Bay
Tel 982-2903
Kingston and St Andrew
The Salvation Army Nest Children's Home caters to 20 children aged nine to 18 years.
According to Major Beverley Scarlett, many of the charges have nowhere to go when they turn 18.
Contributions to this venerable institution will make a tremendous impact. Search your closet for those well-conditioned clothes you haven't worn for months and probably won't wear again and give them to folks who actually need them.
The home is also in need of a washing machine, generator, computers, pots, pans and utensils.
Lena Latibeaudiere, inspector of poor at the Kingston Poor Relief Department on Hanover Street, told The Gleaner that the institution houses 60 destitute persons from the street.
Latibeaudiere says the institution needs to be expanded as it is too small to accommodate the residents. Many can't even eat in the dining area because of space woes.
The shelter needs food, clothing, tiles for dining area, utensils and a vehicle.
Give them a Christmas they'll never forget.
Kingston Poor Relief
65 Hanover Street,
Kingston Tel 967-347