GoodHeart | Spaces delivers on ‘Rebuild with Heart’ promise
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left: The Spaces Jamaica team (from left) Janine Boulevard, administrative assistant; Janelle Pantry-Coke, creative director; Tianna James, intern; and Toni-Ann Hibbert, marketing officer, during the Strawberry community outreach on July 26.
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Front row (from left): Toni-Ann Hibbert, marketing officer; Janine Boulevard, administrative assistant; Janelle Pantry-Coke, creative director; Rotarian Jean Powell of Savanna-la-Mar; Tianna James, intern at Spaces; Audrey Williams, member of the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar; Courtney Bell, community programme coordinator at the FLOW Foundation; poses with (back row, left) Rotarian Dr Adrian Birch of Savanna-la-Mar; Johanne Smith-Welsh, FLOW client relationship executive; Douglas Arnold, member of the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar; Rotarian Vinnett Malcolm; and Sasheika Simpson, FLOW client relationship executive. The group came together in the Strawberry community in Westmoreland to support the distribution of 250 mattresses, along with bedding, to families in need.
Last November, as Spaces Jamaica prepared to mark its 18th anniversary, Hurricane Melissa devastated communities across western Jamaica, leaving countless families displaced. Founder and Creative Director Janelle Pantry-Coke felt there was a responsibility to do more than acknowledge the devastation. That response became Rebuilding with Heart, an initiative focused on helping affected families restore a sense of comfort and dignity as they rebuild. On July 26, that commitment took shape in the Strawberry community in Westmoreland, where Spaces handed over 250 mattresses, along with bedding, to families affected by the hurricane.
The donation was made possible through support from Ashley Furniture Industries, which provided the mattresses, while ECU Worldwide and Freight Handlers facilitated their transportation from the United States. The FLOW Foundation provided financial and logistical support, while the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar coordinated distribution and identified families to receive them.
“The impact of Hurricane Melissa has touched every Jamaican in some way. Rebuilding requires more than one form of support – it requires financial assistance, physical resources, and emotional encouragement. ‘Rebuilding with Heart’ reflects our belief that spaces are more than buildings – they are where families find comfort, security, and belonging. Through this initiative, we hope to help families restore not only their homes, but also their sense of hope,” Pantry-Coke said.
goodheart@gleanerjm.com