The company’s volunteers, including Managing Director Jerome Maxwell and members of the executive management team, each worked on at least one project during the month.
Mr. Maxwell noted that the annual Month of Service activities help to highlight Alcoa’s important mandate of giving back to the communities in which the company operates.
“We believe that this is one way of helping to improve the quality of life of residents, when we personally get involved in giving voluntary service we are saying we care,” he said.
Corporate Services & Government Affairs Manager at Jamalco Leo Lambert is pleased with the response from Jamalco volunteers. “In October2008 we had just over 200 Jamalco and community volunteers working on projects. So far this October we have exceeded this figure by about 10%,” he explained. Mr. Lambert said that despite economic challenges, “Jamalcoans have given selflessly of their time and skills to help refurbish these facilities that will improve the lives of the elderly, the young and those in need of health care in our communities. I applaud our volunteers. Well done!”
On Friday, October 2, twenty six Jamalco volunteers participated in a workday at the Clarendon Infirmary and planted 75 trees at the Campbell’s Castle All Age Schools in South Manchester on the day also celebrated as National Tree Planting Day.
Over 100 volunteers spent Friday October 9 and 16 painting and refurbishing the Lionel Town Hospital and the old gymnasium at Vere Technical High School. At Lionel Town the volunteers concentrated on painting the maternity ward and sections of the walkway. The volunteers continued work they began during two workdays held in May to mark Labour Day. At Vere Technical the employees were joined by students in repairing and painting the old gymnasium that is being converted into a dormitory for the school’s male athletes.
Month of Service activities continued on Friday, October 23 when over 50 Jamalco employees and community volunteers helped to paint the cottage at the Pratville Health Centre, varnished the clinic’s benches and cleaned up the area around the facility. The health centre is located near to Jamalco’s mining offices at Mount Oliphant in South Manchester.
Jamalco volunteers also extended their service to an indigent resident of Mitchell Town Clarendon during the month. They have embarked upon a project to assist the senior citizen by replacing a section of his roof damaged during Hurricane Ivan in 2007.
During the month, Jamalco employees also focused on completing the required 50 hours of service under the Alcoa Foundations Bravo! Programme by volunteering their services at the Summerfield Boys Home and at the St. Thomas Church Basic School in Clarendon.
The Bravo! volunteers will each qualify for a US$250 donation from the Foundation on completion of at least 50 hours of service. The funds are paid to the project/institution to which the service is given.
