Dara Gets Help!
Businessman and politician Lee Mark Chang came up big for Dara’s Feeding Programme. Today, Chang presented a thousand dollar check to the grassroots initiative that feeds about fifty underprivileged school children from the area. Chang also committed a monthly check for the rest of the school year. Joel Dara Robinson’s thirteen-year programme is at risk of closing down because he says he can’t maintain it without support. Robinson reports that it takes roughly three thousand dollars a month to keep the programme going. Robinson told us that since going public with his story in the news last night, he has been receiving calls and promises of support. Today Chang and Robinson spoke with us about the donation to the cause.
Lee Mark Chang
Lee Mark Chang, Donor
“I saw the news last night and I contact Dara this morning. I offered him some assistance, monthly assistance, for the entire school year. So, hopefully there will be some other businesses or people who are concerned and can also give a helping hand and chip in.”
Andrea Polanco
“What touched you about the story last night?”
Lee Mark Chang
“Well, definitely Dara does a lot of work and I have seen kids here who eat during the lunch time. So, kids need to be looked after. They are our future. One of the main purposes of this is to try to also reach out to other businesses or people who are willing to donate. Like I said, one-one full basket and hopefully Dara’s feeding program can continue for as long as it can.”
Joel “Dara” Robinson
Joel “Dara” Robinson, Founder of Dara Feeding Programme
“The beauty with this and a few others dah cash inna hand. I could continue the program and dah wah boost. Like Lee Mark said he will do a monthly donation. So, we the hold ah to his words because yuh know. But I have to give thanks to the man. I dah Caribbean Shores and he inna this area so I guess we could work together. I am more than grateful.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, yesterday you described the feeding program as being on life support; is it still on life support now that you’ve gotten this help?”
Joel “Dara” Robinson
“No. Listen, like I tell you, other people reach out to me and other businesses. Some nuh inna hand yet but it is positive so the program will continue. I could tell you that. Since I do the interview, the community and everybody the reach out to me how I mi need deh reach out to me. So, I thank God and I feel blessed and will continue the work.”
Andrea Polanco
“Are you surprised by the outpouring of support, because I know there are people who have reached out to us from abroad and they want to help?”
Joel “Dara” Robinson
“I have never yet, never yet – I can’t even keep up with the phone with the amount of people. I guess over the years people hear a lot but I never yet come to the nation and say I so much in need. I guess when I do that people conscious wow, yuh know.”
If you want to assist Dara’s Feeding Programme, you can call him at 623-3662.
