Mary’s Child hails support from Fontana’s Wishing Tree

Nadia Williams, administrator of Mary’s Child, says community partnerships are vital in helping teenage mothers rebuild their lives. Her comments came as Fontana completed one of its Christmas Wishing Tree handovers at the Papine-based home last week. Mary’s Child provides residential care for teenage mothers and their babies, many referred by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency after being deemed in need of care and protection by the courts.

Williams stresses that the home offers more than shelter, providing psychological and educational assessments to ensure each young mother receives tailored support.

“Many of the girls have experienced trauma,” she said. “We assess them carefully to determine the best way to support them—not only as mothers, but as young women with goals and aspirations.”

She added that initiatives such as Fontana’s Wishing Tree bring more than gifts at Christmas.

“It brings love, encouragement and a sense of normality,” she said. “For many of the girls, if they were elsewhere, they would not experience Christmas like this. Having partners who return year after year makes a real difference.”

Fontana’s support extends beyond seasonal visits, with the company maintaining long-standing relationships with children’s homes through its community programmes.

“We cannot do this work alone,” Williams said. “Partnerships help us to fulfil what we want for these young mothers and their babies: a chance at a happy, ordinary life.”

She urged Jamaicans to support children’s homes outside the festive period.

“There are many homes across the island,” she said. “People can visit, donate what they can, or simply show the children they are cared for. Sometimes just being present means more than anything else.”

Continued public involvement, she noted, strengthens the safety net for vulnerable young mothers and helps them return to school, work and independent living.