Two United States visitors to Anguilla, and a friend in their home state of New York, have set a bar for others who like the island – and wish to give back to the destination in whatever way they deem necessary.
The visitors, Mr. Charles George and Mrs. Veronica George, along with Dr. David Jacobson of Fifth Avenue in New York City, donated six computers, six monitors and a printer to Eleos Centre. The non-profit and voluntary organization running the Centre is a Family Support Ministry of the Methodist Circuit in Anguilla. Its Vision Statement is: “For stronger, families, Better communities”.
The donations were presented to the Eleos Centre Board, the voluntary staff and the pupils, on Friday, January 11, 2019, at the historic Methodist Manse at Sandy Ground.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Chairperson of the Eleos Centre Board, Mrs. Hyacinth T. Hughes, said it was originally planned to have a New Year’s party for the twenty children from across the island attending the Centre. However, with two of the donors, Mr. and Mrs. George, having been in Anguilla at that time, it was decided to focus mainly on the presentation ceremony. The visitors were from a New York-based dental company specializing in imagery and periodontal practices.
Mrs. Hughes explained that the Centre provides an After School Programme that has been in existence for six years. Classes are open to primary school-aged children (from 5 to 12 years). However, some students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School were receiving assistance with their homework and the use of computers. One of them is Kyon Wodley (Keke) who has assisted with the setting up of the computer systems.
The US visitors first came to Anguilla in 1995 when guest accommodation places were considered both expensive and perhaps not readily available. They were accommodated by Sherma Richardson & family who offered them affordable guesthouse rates at Sandy Ground.
On behalf of Dr. Jacobson and themselves, the US couple expressed special thanks to Sherma Richardson – without whose assistance the presentation of the computer equipment could not have happened – and the following persons for paying for the shipment of the equipment: Monsel Lloyd of United Electric; Douglas Carty of Special “D” Driving; Laurie Gumbs and Deborah Vos of Tradition Sailing Charters; and Keke Woodley for setting up the computers.
In addition to Mrs. Hughes and the other members of the Eleos Centre Board are, the Manager of the Centre Mrs. Civilla Kentish and Volunteers, Mrs. Janice Hodge, the longest serving volunteer, and Ms. Angelina Carty.
