Paynesville – A United States-Liberian-based charity foundation, Shamel’s Place Incorporated has donated dozens of toys to over 500 children from several orphanages from across Montserrado and Margibi Counties.
The Founder and President of Shamel’s Place Incorporated, Astan Eyah Kolleh, in an interview with reporters at the Phebe Gray Orphanage in Margibi County on Tuesday, December 11, explained the gesture is the foundation’s way of putting smile on the faces of the orphans, “the least advantaged children as we celebrate the festive season.”
Shamel’s Place Incorporated, she said, was established in memory of her late son, little Samuel Shamel Adama Kolleh, who died from multiple heart diseases just six weeks after his birth in the United States.
“After that [death of her son], I got a vision on how I can make his name live on and through that we birthed this foundation. His name was Samuel Shamel Adama Kolleh, we used his Shamel’s name and created Shamel’s Place Incorporated. And we decided that we will serve orphans because they are underserved and underprivileged,” she explained.
“We thought it wise that we will come back to our roots, our country and we will find orphanages and find the orphans that we will bless this holiday season. Christmas is all about giving. And God is using us as His vessels to give to these children and put a smile on the faces of the orphans that we encountered today.”
Also, Mrs. Kolleh, on behalf of Shamel’s Place Inc. presented an envelope containing the cash for the older children as their Christmas gift. She said the toys were for kids from 10 years and below.
The president of the Charity was joined by her Executive Secretary, Delcontee Korto Baysah, who flew with her to Liberia, as well as some members of the local chapter, headed by its team leader, Abdullah Keita.
Mrs. Baysah expressed joy over the warm reception from the orphanages and the smiles of the children. She thanked administrators of the centers for the care and love they continue to show the children in the midst of challenges.
The orphanages include Children Rescue Center Orphanage in Mount Barclay, Gateway to Life Omega Community, Hope In Christ of Careysburg, Love A Child Orphanage and Phebe Gray Orphanage in Margibi County.
The children from the orphanages were all in joyous mood as their gifts were presented to them. They hugged, laughed and danced with their guests, something Mrs. Kolleh said was her biggest takeaway.
“I am overwhelmed and I am just grateful to God. The biggest thing that I take away from today is when I saw the smiles that I so dream of to see on the faces of the children. Those smiles melted my heart and if I went to sleep today and didn’t wake up the next morning, I would have died a happy woman because I put a smile on the faces of children that I only dream to put a smile on,” she said.
The items she says was gathered through donations from charitable organizations, friends, families, and workmates, among others.
She thanked the donors and the teams in the United States and Liberia for the exceptional work and cooperation in making the trip to Liberia successful.
Meanwhile, the heads of the orphanages, at their respective institutions, thanked Shamel’s Place Incorporated for the gesture and called on other charitable organizations and humanitarians to follow their footsteps.
At the first stop on Tuesday, Pastor Harris Z. Korboi, Mission Director of the Gateway To Life Children’s Ministries in Omega Community thanked Mrs. Kolleh and her team for putting a smile on the faces of the children.
Rose Mayson, Directress of Phebe Gray Orphanage said the gesture was a unique Christmas gift for the children.
“We are very grateful to Shamel’s Place for these unique Christmas gifts. The children and I are so very grateful for thinking about them and we will always keep you in our prayers to be successful in whatever you do to touch the lives of children,” Madam Mayson said.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kolleh revealed that the foundation will be officially launched in October next year with a fundraiser.