Residents of the Grace Home Shelter and Golden Age Home Lautoka Shelter have received cash, clothing and essential items from staff of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection as part of an outreach initiative to support vulnerable members of the community.
The donations were made during visits led by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Selina Kuruleca, before the team attended the Super Rugby Women's Grand Final in Ba.
The initiative is part of the Ministry's commitment to supporting those in need and strengthening community care.
The Ministry says the donations were made possible through generous contributions from Ministry staff, who donated cash and clothing, as well as a contribution from Mark Halabe of Mark Apparel.
They say the items will benefit street dwellers who have recently been integrated into residential homes and shelters over the past few weeks, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
The outreach also included a visit to Ministry staff member Gulnaaz Bi, whose family lost everything in a devastating house fire last month. Staff presented donations collected by colleagues to assist the family as they recover from the tragedy.
Kuruleca thanked Ministry staff and Halabe for their generosity, saying the initiative reflects the Ministry's values of compassion, solidarity and service.
She says the Ministry works every day to support vulnerable individuals and families, and it is heartening to see its own staff leading by example.
Kuruleca says whether it is supporting people experiencing homelessness or standing beside a colleague during a difficult time, these acts of kindness remind us that, together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
The Ministry also acknowledged the dedicated staff and management of the Grace Home Shelter and Golden Age Home Lautoka Shelter for the care and support they continue to provide to residents as they work towards rebuilding their lives.
