The Star (Jamaica)

Single mother in need of help

- ROMARDO LYONS STAR Writer

Tamar O’Haro, 29, is a single mother of four who is struggling to provide for herself and her children.

She has a 10-months-old baby girl, a four and an 11-year-old daughter, and a six-year-old son, and is struggling to make ends meet.

The 29-year-old says she had to press pause on a business she was operating.

“I’m struggling because I’m not working because my cookshop … I started it since September 2018, but since April of this year, I had to return the pots which I borrowed. I’m the only one that has to be finding food and everything for my four children. My last daughter, sometimes I don’t even know how I find pampers for her, it’s just the mercy of God and the grace of Him.”

Though it has been a month since the new school year started, she told THE STAR that her children are still unprepared for school. “I am a mother of four children and three of them just started school today. My oldest daughter, she suppose to be doing PEP and going to grade six. Yesterday, I got only three skirts for her and I have her PE top but I don’t have any school blouses for her. For the others, I don’t really have uniform. I have one khaki pants for my son and two shirts.”

She has been rummaging through places that help the needy, hoping to be assisted. “Sometimes I come down to Father Ho Lung to get stuff and come to places where I hear that I can get stuff but sometimes it’s to no avail. Sometimes it’s too late and it’s hard to find the bus fare coming back and forth. I’m struggling now but I’m trying to sort myself out to get a job so I can be able to fund them and take care of my four children,” she said.

LIVING CONDITIONS

To make things worse, her living conditions are far from ideal. “Even the house that I’m staying in, in Castleton, is the house my parents used to live in…they don’t live there anymore. I’m sleeping on a sponge for so long now. The kids will roll and the sheet comes off and then I have to be picking sponge from their hair. I find myself having to lie, even though I don’t want to do it just to get help. I’m not fond of that,” she said while holding back tears. “Today I just got two bags. I went on the road yesterday and I tried a place but I don’t know if I’ll be successful yet. They took my resume, so, hopefully, I can get a work and just believe in God for what he is.”

Despite her prolonged struggle, she still believes God is protecting her. “If I could get my restaurant started up back, I could do something myself. Get some pots or a bag a rice, chicken back or do fries, hot dog.

I’m grateful to God for sparing my life. I have four kids and no disease, no sickness, all of them are well and alive and rest assured, I know that God is gracious and God is on our side.” Persons who want to help Tamar O’Haro can contact her at 876-882-3698.

 ??  ?? A police officer stands guard as Haitian migrants waiting to get food distribute­d by humanitari­an organizati­ons in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday. A preliminar­y report estimates Hurricane Dorian caused some $7 billion in damage in the Bahamas, but the government has not yet offered any figures. The official death toll from the storm in the Bahamas stands at 56, while there are still 600 people missing.
A police officer stands guard as Haitian migrants waiting to get food distribute­d by humanitari­an organizati­ons in Nassau, Bahamas, yesterday. A preliminar­y report estimates Hurricane Dorian caused some $7 billion in damage in the Bahamas, but the government has not yet offered any figures. The official death toll from the storm in the Bahamas stands at 56, while there are still 600 people missing.
 ??  ?? Tamar O’Haro
Tamar O’Haro

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