GV Service Stations step up to power Hanover’s Kitchen of Love
WESTERN BUREAU: MORE THAN 400 persons across the parish of Hanover, including some homeless persons, who receive a hot meal in Lucea each Tuesday, courtesy of the Hanover Ministers Fraternal, are now sure of the continuation of the ‘Kitchen of Love’ programme.
This as Garmic Ventures Limited’s GV Service Stations – a chain of service stations in the parish – have given the programme a boost.
According to the directors of Garmic Ventures Limited, which usually make contributions to the weekly feeding project, they have increased the level of contribution to the initiative after seeing the need for it and its impact on the needy.
“We started an initiative in December 2023, where we made a commitment that for every litre of gas purchased at any GV Service Station, we are going to donate $1 to the Kitchen of Love as a service to the Hanover community,” Garmic Ventures Limited Managing Director Gary Whittaker told The Gleaner.
He was speaking on Tuesday at the handover of the first cheque for $563,366 under that commitment.
It was presented to the chairman of the Hanover Ministers Fraternal, Reverend Sheldon Ashman, at the Kitchen of Love facility in Lucea, where the meals are prepared weekly.
“It (the contribution) would not be possible without the support of our clients and customers, who have supported us over the years, and this contribution, with us as the conduit, is also their way of giving back to the Hanover community,” Whittaker stated.
He noted that the management and staff at GV Service Stations have set themselves a target of $5 million for the year, with contributions to be made to the project monthly.
Ashman expressed gratitude for the donation on behalf of the Kitchen of Love and the volunteers who made it a success.
“... The partnership that we have forged is very valuable to us and the persons who we serve particularly on a Tuesday, and we look forward to whatever other offerings you will give to us so that we can serve the people of Hanover and beyond,” he said.
PARTNERSHIP
Ashman told The Gleaner that the Kitchen of Love started many years ago in Lucea and was at one time mainly sponsored by the Hanover Charities. He said that other partnerships have also been forged with other private sector groups over the years.
“Each Tuesday, we serve over 400 persons in and around the parish capital, Lucea, with a hot meal. We go as far as Green Island in the west, and Elgin Town in the east,” he stated, crediting the team of volunteers who diligently assist with the preparation and delivery of the meals weekly to those not able to travel.
“We have thought of expanding the programme beyond just the one day, as we know that people are hungry every day, but clearly, one of the drawbacks would be the financial backing to have it done,” said Ashman, who is the pastor in the Mount Moriah Circuit of Baptist Churches in the Dias/ Kingsvale area.
While expressing deep appreciation to the donors to the project over the years, Ashman argued that sometimes, it was like working a miracle every Tuesday.
Ashman is encouraging persons who wish to contribute to the project to contact any member of the Hanover Ministers Fraternal or to contact him directly at 876-431-4135.