Continuing to execute the transportation component of its Senior Relief Project, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) presented a new bus to the Home Away From Foundation on October 18th. On hand at the presentation were SMDF Director Keith Franca, Program and Development Manager Makhicia Brooks and Financial Administrator Jennai Marlin. Representing Home Away From Home were the foundation’s President and orchestrator of activities Patricia Flanders and Assistant Lionel Wilson. Additionally on hand was Dutch Government Representative in Philipsburg (VNP) Chris Johnson. In presenting the bus’ keys to Flanders, Franca described the value of Home Away From Home and its activities. “In hosting its senior outreach activities, Home Away From Home is taking seniors out of isolation and is ensuring that over 100 seniors receive recreation, fellowship and lunch at least three days per week.” “The importance of this cannot be underscored enough and the foundation’s contribution to our community is invaluable,” continued Franca.
Joyfully, Flanders, who has led Home Away From Home for almost fifteen years, thanked SMDF for its years of support of the foundation’s outreach program and now the new bus. Flanders further expressed her gratitude as the bus allows Home Away to resume its thrice weekly senior outreach activities which were suspended after the passing of hurricane Irma. “With this bus, we can start getting the seniors back together,” said Flanders. “The seniors have been anxiously waiting for us to pick them up and take them to the center,” continued Flanders. Johnson, who has supported SMDF throughout the Senior Relief project thanked Flanders for her many years of service to St. Maarten’s senior community and stood assured the buses would be put to good use. “Hearing of the work Home Away has done over the past few years, I know that this bus will go far to serve St. Maarten’s senior,” he said.
The purchase and handover of the bus to Home Away From Home concluded the transportation component of SMDF’s Senior Relief Project themed ‘Alleviating the Living Conditions of the Elderly’. Having just donated an additional four buses to Helping Hands Foundation, SMDF has made a significant contribution to senior transportation and outreach on St. Maarten. Closing out the handover, Franca again thanked the Dutch Ministry of Kingdom and Interior Relations for making the remaining AMFO funds available to SMDF to continue its social development financing on St. Maarten. He additionally thanked Saint Martin Cars for the reduced prices of the buses, ensuring that the buses fell within the project’s budget. In the coming weeks, SMDF will continue executing the other components of the projects which will include home repairs and other forms of support for the elderly.
In photo: SMDF Director Keith Franca (center), flanked by Dutch Representative in Philipsburg Chris Johnson, SMDF Program and Development Manager Makhicia Brooks and SMDF Financial Administrator Jennai Marlin, presents the key to Home Away From Home President Patricia Flanders (third right), flanked by Home Away From Home Assistant Lionel Wilson and volunteer bus driver Elvis Flanders. (Elvis Harrigan photo)