Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Karen Elliot and four of her five children shelter at the Old Harbour Bay community centre in St. Catherine two weeks ago. The children have since been taken into state care for their protection. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

Karen Elliot who was featured in yesterday's Gleaner, seems set to be reunited with her children as Food For the Poor is seeking to determine how it may assist the 37-year-old mother of five.

The charity organisation's enquiries revolve around Ms. Elliot's access to land where a house may possibly be erected.

The Gleaner reported yesterday that the Child Development Agency (CDA) was forced to separate Ms. Elliot from four of her five children after the hurricane shelter they were occupying was destroyed by the recent heavy rains.

Organisation on board

Reports from officials at the charity are that, after reading the story of Ms. Elliot's plight in The Gleaner, the organisation decided to come on board to help resolve the heart-rending situation.

"We would want to lend our support in a positive way for her to be an involved mother again, and it is the custom of Food For the Poor to make the lives of people better wherever we can," said Delroy Whitehall, the organisation's public relations officer.

When The Gleaner checked with Ms. Elliot at the shelter in Old Harbour Bay yesterday afternoon, her mother Sarah Russell was grateful to hear that assistance was finally coming for her daughter.

"Mi thank God that a will see mi grandchildren them again because Karen nah tek it too well," Ms. Russell said.

Ms. Elliot was also appreciative of the donor agency's intent to assist. "Yes, man, mi find a piece a land down in a Old Harbour Bay at a place name Bay Bottom and as long as mi get the house, mi can put it deh."

She added that since her children were taken away, she has not eaten and has lost weight and energy. She said she would do anything to be reunited with her offspring and that she was told earlier that, if she could get a place to rent, the Social Security Department would have assisted with rental.

She told The Gleaner that her attempts to get a house to rent proved futile.

Meanwhile, the CDA said as soon as Ms. Elliot finds accommodation, her children will be returned to her.

"As she finds proper housing for the children to keep them from danger and harm, the CDA will not hesitate to return her children to her," said Rashida St. Juste, public relations officer for the CDA.