Poor St Catherine family in viral video receives assistance

Moved by the great need expressed by the struggling Tucker family in Springfield district, Guys Hill, St Catherine, scores of Jamaicans, including famous faces, rushed yesterday to provide support.

The Tuckers went viral this week due to a documentary-style YouTube video by Street Driven.tv which explored the extent of their financial difficulties and how that has affected the family of four. The older of the two children, Delano, shared that the family had no meat on the table for six months and there was no electricity or water. When THE STAR visited the Tucker residence, there was a massive crowd of persons, some bringing groceries and other essentials, while others were cleaning the home and assembling material to improve the structure. The organiser of the endeavour, Errol Green, says crowds started to assemble as early as 8 a.m. He and others visited the family on Monday after seeing the video and made an initial assessment of the situation.

"We decided that we're in the rainy season and things might get worse so we said we'd plan a workday today where we can come and clean up the area and put up something that they can live more comfortable for now," he said. The men added plyboard to the roof in an effort to stop leaks. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell said that he saw the video and was deeply touched.

"It mash me up wicked. So I made some calls, my manager made some calls as well and we heard that a lot of people wanted to help," he said. Powell said she wants to speak with Delano, who has been excelling at Guys Hill High School despite the issues.

"So my plan here is just to talk to him, see what it is that he wants, what he wants to do in the future as well. I just wanna see where his mindset is and how best I can help," said Powell. Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force also made their contribution.

Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Rohan James, told THE STAR "Oftentimes the police officers are looked at in a negative light and that we only respond to certain situations. We do engage in outreach activities but we do keep them on the low. This is one such and we do intend to make a positive difference."

James said that it is best for them to harness Delano's talent now "to give him that ray of hope and support."

Registered nurse Gilonie Merchant, who late last year received a car from the NCB Foundation, through TVJ's All Angles programme, says she felt drawn to the family to 'pay it forward'.

Accompanied by classmates from the 1999 graduating class from St Andrew Technical High School spent the day carrying blocks, clearing bushes and aiding to make the Tuckers' house a home again.

"We came together, put our little packages together and decided that we would make a little trip down here at Guys Hill, Mud Lane. Today I hope that corporate Jamaica will not just sit back and look and speculate and talk, [but that] they will just come and be a part of it and give their very best," she said.

Volunteers were still arriving at 4 p.m. and Green says that this is only the beginning.