Many members of the community turned out to receive packages containing household items and with the help of Mario Mitchell the councillor for the Bellefield Division that includes Banana Ground in the Manchester Northwestern constituency, packages were also distributed to other members of the community who were unable to show up.
Councillor Mitchell explained that Elaine decided to deliver packages to the elderly members of the community after having a conversation with her grandmother, ‘Miss Hyacinth’ who brought to her attention the fact that there were a number of people who were bedridden and were particularly vulnerable to the Covid-19 virus.
Otherwise, the event was well needed and was successful, Mitchell said.
“It was well-received. The children came out. The mothers came out. Banana Ground is a farming community so the farmers were in the fields but they came out later. There was music, there was food. All who came out got a token as well as a care package,” Mitchell said.
Notwithstanding her international fame, Elaine has always remained rooted in the community. Her family, including her father, uncles and grandmother, still live in Banana Ground and hence the residents were glad to have been beneficiaries of her initiative.
“They were happy to see Elaine. They were happy they had something, the care packages and educational toys for the kids as well as supermarket vouchers that were won by people who participated in a quiz about Elaine,” Derron told Sportsmax. TV.
The quiz, he said, was particularly enjoyable because so many from the community were able to correctly answer the questions about Elaine. In some instances, they were awarding prizes to as many as three people for each question.
In short, the people of Banana Ground loved it.
“I think it was a good idea and she did a very good thing, giving back to the community,” said a female resident of Banana Ground. “I know the community appreciated what she has done and I hope she keeps up the good work and I wish her all the best. I wish her long life and prosperity.”
Packages were also distributed to members of the nearby Bellefield community, who were grateful for the largesse.
Mitchell said he delivered care packages earlier but didn’t have enough “so her effort helped out a lot,” he said.
Derron said they were planning another similar event for Lakes Pen in Spanish Town, St Catherine but was unable to say when and where that would take place.
The triple Tokyo Olympic champion, who was conferred with an Honorary Degree Doctor of Laws by the University of Technology on Sunday, and her husband Derron, had planned to host a treat for children in the community. However, on the advice from health experts amidst concern about the spread of the Covid-19 virus, those plans changed.
The couple, via the FastElaine Foundation, will now distribute care packages containing household items from tents set up in a ‘town-square’ type setting, Derron explained on Thursday.
The tents were donated by Elaine’s sponsors NCB and Flow and there will be sanitization stations, temperature checks. Masks will also be distributed should any of the residents show up not wearing.
The distribution of care packages is being scheduled to begin at about 1 pm and will last two-three hours as the organizers want to complete the process before it gets dark.
Herah revealed that in addition to NCB and Flow, a number of other sponsors have come on board. They include Honey Bun, Tradewinds Citrus Limited via their Tru Juice brand, Eve Foods and Red Bull. “I am really glad for their support, especially considering that they came on at short notice,” said Herah, who also revealed that other potential sponsors have been reaching out offering their support for the initiative that will be the first for FastElaine Foundation that will have its official launch in January 2022.
According to a Radio Jamaica report, Thompson-Herah, who has been a shadow of her usual competitive self in recent times, engaged the temporary arrangement with Osbourne, after the National Senior Championships in July, where she missed an individual lane for the upcoming World Athletic Championships.
However, she finished well enough to make the team to Budapest, Hungary, as part of the relay pool.
While the move may come as a surprise to many, Osbourne, who previously coached Papine High, explained that it is basically a continuation of what transpired during Thompson-Herah’s time at MVP.
“I have been working with her since we have been at MVP, so it’s similar stuff; so, I’m just working with her for now. Not sure if it is going to be permanent, but just working with her for now,” said Osbourne during the Radio Jamaica interview.
The coach pointed out that where the relationship goes after the World Championships is left solely up to Thompson-Herah, 31, who previously took orders from world renowned coach Stephen Francis before switching coaching duties to her husband Derron Herah in 2021.
“It’s according to her, probably she’s trying to see how things work out to the end of the season and then she’ll make a decision, but it’s up to her,” Osbourne shared.
