Karen Elliot and four of her five children shelter at the Old Harbour Bay Community Centre in St. Catherine, weeks after Hurricane Dean. The children had to be put into state care for their protection. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

A wide smile and many words of thanks came from Karen Elliot after she was presented with US$25 courtesy of a donation from a visitor to the island who read her story in The Gleaner.

"I thank them very much, as from they take away my children I have the feeling that no one cares for me, so it is really good to see that life is turning in a positive light," said Elliot.

According to Joan, a visitor to the island, she saw Elliot's story and wanted to make sure her contribution would help to buy something for her children over the Christmas holidays.

Although she did not get the money until January 4, the mother of five told The Gleaner that she would be visiting the homes where the Child Development Agency had taken her children to give them whatever she could and, in the meantime, would try to work on getting a piece of land so donor agent, Food For the Poor (FFP), could build her a house as promised.

Terrible living

The news of Karen Elliot's plight came to the fore in late October 2007 after The Gleaner visited the Old Harbour Bay Community Centre and found her living with her children in virtual squalor, with part of the building's roof open, leaving them at the mercy of nature.

Days after that visit, the authorities, in their bid to take care of the children, took them to childrens' homes in Kingston, where they have been since.

The authorities have promised that the children would be released to their mother on the condition that she had a proper home in place for them.

It was at that time that FFP decided to build a house for Elliot, but were stalled by the fact that she didn't own any land.

- Rasbert Turner