Our Labor Day Kitchen Supply Visit

Our Labor Day Kitchen Supply Visit

Date: 23 Sep, 2016  No Comments

Mr. Lyons is the Food and Beverage Manager at Melia Braco Resort where we were staying. He wanted to go with us to see just what we were trying to accomplish. After surveying the current condition of the kitchen and the equipment, he decided that we should partner together to help get this school back to acceptable standards.

ATL (Appliance Traders Limited Jamaica) showed up after a short while and pulled the truck to the kitchen and we all got to work. At the end of the day we had a brand new range installed next to the old range that was in disrepair. In addition we brought in a reach in deep freezer and a commercial blender for mixing sauces and spices. I have never seen a man so happy. Steve, the school’s cook, was beside himself with excitement. I think we were just as excited as he was. The old range is going to be refurbished to like new condition.

The one thing we all kept noticing was a complete lack of cleaning supplies. We decided on Saturday that something needed to be done so we had a driver take us into Duncans to a chemical supply company where we ordered a wide range of supplies that should cover all their needs for a few months. Not completely satisfied, we went down the street to the hardware store and purchased 2 gallons of high gloss oil paint plus brushes and solvents for cleaning. Steve wants it for the interior walls of the kitchen. Supplies in hand, we went to the school and everyone’s faces showed the joy of their new supplies.

Mrs. Michele Gelzine is the new Principal at the school and the one we had been in contact with for the last month or so. She invited us to the commencement ceremony to be held Sunday morning at the community church down the street. This ceremony is held every year just before school starts. We met at the church the next day. As the church filled, we began to see some familiar faces. The School’s teachers and students were filing in and filling the front rows, all smiling and excited. Each child proudly wore their school uniforms. During the service, Mrs. Gelzine was introduced to speak about the upcoming school year. Early in her speech she stopped to introduce her guests. She called our names and asked us to come up to the podium where she and the Reverend were standing. She asked me to speak to the congregation and share some history about One Love Education and what we were helping accomplish at the school. It truly was an honor to be there and humbling to be asked to speak. It really is beginning to feel like we are making a difference.

Monday morning was the first day of the new school year and many parents, family and friends were present. We were there along with friends from Melia Braco who also happened to be cousins of the cook – Steve. Mrs. Gelzine made her announcement and had the local Deacon lead everyone in morning prayers. Once again she introduced us and stuck another microphone in my face. Feeling a bit more prepared this time I spoke to the adults and shared our story of how we came to be a foundation as well as how we came to Duncans. It was a good start to the day we all thought. After the students had returned to their rooms we went class to class handing out new pencils, some candy, soccer balls and jump ropes. We all had so much fun doing that!

During the classroom visits we began to notice the smell of fried chicken cooking. We all went to see just what Steve was up to on his first day of school. He was preparing fried chicken, coleslaw and pasta salad for 500 people. He was smiling and happy like he always is. The only difference this time was that he had not 2 burners to use, he had 9! His life has been made much more stress free!

As a side note, visiting the school before the students were there enabled us to take a good hard look at the school, its infrastructure and its classrooms. We noticed many classrooms didn’t have working lights; one classroom needs a new roof. There were plumbing problems and other electrical issues. The sixth grade class is up the hill. It has no path or any stairs. It does have plenty of jagged and exposed rocks just waiting for a child to fall and get seriously injured. On to the next project…

• Chris