GTC facilitates donations to Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls

Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls, located in Cane End in the Marriaqua Valley, is now better placed to carrying out its daily operations effectively.{{more}}

Through the efforts of the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC), the home has received a donation of $5,000 along with two washing machines, a stove, a microwave and an electric kettle.

These items were handed over a ceremony at the Haddon Hotel courts last Saturday, during the club’s annual cause called “Tennis For Hope”.

Administrator of the home Salene Dopwell was excited to receive the timely contribution.

A beaming Dopwell, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT recently, explained, “We greatly appreciate the assistance…. The donations have come at a good time, as these things were well in need…. We had one washing machine since the opening of the home in 2007 and it is out now and the girls have had to wash on their hands.”

Dopwell said that one of the other appliances — the stove — has come in handy, as the existing one also went into a state of disrepair recently.

She expressed thanks to those have assisted in the past and welcomed others who wish to come on board and ensure that the home is able to provide adequately for those it serves.

Several of the girls who are housed at the home joined Dopwell in saying thanks to all those individuals and organizations who have come to their assistance.

Grant Connell, head of the GTC, who spearheaded the drive, said he was grateful for the response to the venture.

“The response from the business places was great…. Keith Boyea and the guys at Beacon Insurances kept their promises and bought shirts for their entire staff and assisted in the printing of shirts…. Scotia Bank purchased a washing machine, microwave and electric kettle, while Owen Mayers at Finishing and Furnishing, who then matched the purchase by donating another machine and a stove to the cause and the T-Shirt Store, who sold the shirts at reduced price,” Connell outlined.

“…What happened in this event is a manifestation of what happens when a community comes together to assist a cause…. Like many of the issues in St Vincent and the Grenadines, they can be solved by us the people…. Just search your conscience, have a heart…. Live and let your brother live and all will be well…,” Connell continued.

He noted that the GTC was only the conduit in bringing individuals, good corporate citizens and a good cause together.

Connell continued: “We were able to raise the $5,000 donation through the kind assistance of Mr Deron Grant, former tennis coach at the club and now tennis pro in Oman, who has never forgotten his roots here….Stephen Joachim, Sebastian “Bassy” Alexander and Bing Joseph, who …created the opportunity for persons to make their timely monetary donations…. Fish was donated by the fisherman of the year for barbecue and Nikolas Boyea assisted on the grill…It was a great team effort.”

Seventeen of the girls who are part of the home also got a taste of the sport of tennis, as Connell, along with other members of the Grassroot Tennis Club provided some on the spot training.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Home for Girls, is a venture undertaken by the Catholic institution here and caters for high-risk girls between the ages of 12 and 18 years.