Heritage Bank and Hand In Hand Ministries today handed over the keys to their 19th home. This time, an elderly man and his wife got the keys as a late birthday gift. Before, they'd been plagued with mud and water whenever they wanted to use the bathroom. But tonight, they'll be sleeping a lot more soundly. Courtney Menzies was at the handing over and has this story.
Urbano Flores and Olive Bennett have been living on Delsyia Goff Street in Belama Phase 4 for the past 14 years. But their home had deteriorated significantly over the years:
Urbano Flores, Recipient
"The problem is that every time it rains, we have water problems, we have to struggle through the mud and water and we had an outside bathroom. So it was very inconvenient, because she 76, I'm 71. So to walk in that water each day when you wake up to go and bathe, travel through it, it was very tiresome."
But today, they got to move into their newly built home, courtesy of Heritage Bank and Hand in Hand Ministries, as a part of their ongoing program.
Stephen Duncan, Managing Director, Heritage Bank
"We have been doing it now since 2017 and we're now, this represents the 19th that we've participated with. As you know, we participate with the hand in hand ministry, we try to do one every year except in 2020 when we did one every month so it's something that we feel is helping to fill a need, fill a void and so we are happy to do what little we can to assist with the program, I think it is a wonderful program and we actually participate, the staff actually participates as the labour force when we do things like this. So we were here, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, even in the rain, trying to get this done so I'm pleased to see that we were able to accomplish it."
Rashida Bethran, Hand in Hand Ministries
"Ultimately Heritage Bank decided on which family from the three that we shared with them on who they will choose. Hand in Hand builds for families of greater need and it's a challenging situation when we have to choose from a list of qualified partners but from all those we have assessed during this process, Mr Urbano and Ms Olive, they were one of the most needy at the time based on their conditions as you guys can see, so that was what made us make the decision."
"It's always a wondering experience to know that you're part of a service where you're able to provide assistance and help for a family that is in dire need. It's more rewarding than the paycheck at the end of the month."
And this elderly couple couldn't be more grateful.
Urbano Flores, Recipient
"I went and I applied and we kept in contact and they called and told me they were going to do it last week Friday. And I was very happy because I was waiting for it."
Thank God and thanks to the Heritage Bank and all who help us work and contribute their labor, I'm thankful to all. Even to you who are recording."
Olive Mae Bennett, Recipient
"I feel very nice because Mr Duncan built the house. I thank Mr Duncan and God bless everybody who came out here Saturday to help us."
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