The Garland Hall Children’s Home in Anchovy, St James, was last week presented with a 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus by the Tower Isles, St Mary, based-Kemtek Development and Construction Company Limited.

The vehicle was handed over to the home during the celebration ceremony of the Jamaica Baptist Union Convention and 165th General Assembly held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay.

Chairman for the Garland Hall Children’s George Simpson and President of the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation Esmilda McKenzie accepted the donation on behalf of the home from the Kemtek’s board of directors.

During a brief handing over ceremony, Kemteck directors Garwin, Sylvester and Handel Tulloch, were presented with plaques by members of the Jamaica Baptist Union, in a mark of appreciation for their kind gesture.

According to McKenzie, the vehicle which will be stationed at the Children’s Home will result in savings in transportation costs at the facility.

“Whenever the children at the home wanted to go somewhere they had to be paying $15,000 for transportation at the nearest destination, so the bus we have now received will assist us greatly,” said McKenzie, as she thanked Kemteck for the donation.

The Garland Hall Children’s Home, formerly known as Pansy Garden, was completed in 1957.

The home, which is run by the Jamaica Baptist Union and sponsored by the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation, accommodates up to 35 children, most of whom are wards of the state, sent to the institution by the Child Development Agency.

About 20 wards of the state are currently housed at the home.

Directors of Kemtek Development and Construction Company in Tower Isle, St Mary (at front, from left) Garwin, Sylvester and Handell Tullouch, pose with plaques received from members of the Jamaica Baptist Union in appreciation for the company’s donation of a Toyota Hiace bus to the Garland Hall Children’s Home in St James, last week. (PHOTOS: ALAN LEWIN)