The Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester Chapter (BMWC) of the New York-based Caribbean-American Nurses Association, Inc. (CANA) on Saturday, Oct. 10, honored the Community Food Ministries at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx during the chapter’s 29th Annual Vernese Weekes Scholarship Luncheon at Eastwood Manor on Eastchester Road in the Bronx.
The chapter also presented the Vernese Weekes Scholarship awards to two nursing students: Morgan Forbes and Jamaar Henry.
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Jamaar Henry holds a scholarship award, flanked by his parents, Jerome Henry, left, and Gail Matthew.Nelson A. King[/caption]
Trinidadian-born Karen Bovell served as Legacy Keynote Speaker during the gala in recognition of her late mother, Catherine Benjamin Bovell, who was an “active and valued” member of CANA.
“The soup kitchen and food pantry ministries at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Williamsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx serve as a critical safety net,” BMWC said. “They provide both immediate warm meals and weekly groceries to local families and individuals facing food insecurity.”
BMWC said the food pantry serves over 35,000 people annually, focusing on distributing essential ingredients, fresh items, and shelf-stable goods to help restock household kitchens for families experiencing nutritional instability.
The Community Food Ministries at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church said they bridge “structural gaps by preparing and serving freshly cooked meals in a welcoming, dignifying environment.”
BMWC said it named its Nursing Scholarship Fund after its late member, Barbadian-born nurse Vernese Weekes, “as a tribute to this gallant soldier – surely a woman of extraordinary essence.”
Forbes, who, throughout high school, developed a strong interest in healthcare, said her educational plan is to follow her passion and pursue a career in the health field that will allow her to serve others “with compassion and purpose.”
She is currently enrolled at Advent Health University in Orlando, Florida, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
“For me, nursing is more than a profession; it is a calling rooted in compassion, service, dedication and leadership,” said Forbes, who is of Jamaican ancestry. “I carried with me the hope and struggles of my own experiences, while striving to have a profession, which will allow me to care for and be an advocate for those who need a voice to help them access adequate health care.
“Receiving this scholarship will greatly support my educational goals and help to ease the financial burden of higher education, also allowing me to focus on my studies,” she added.
Henry, who traces his roots to Antigua and Barbuda, said that, for as long as he could remember, he wanted a career “built around people,” where his ability to “communicate, listen, and make others feel comfortable was not simply a personality trait, but something” he “could use to make a difference every day.
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Ashton Greenidge, coordinator of the Community Food Ministries at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx, holds a plaque, flanked by volunteers.Nelson A. King[/caption]
“I have always been able to make friends, family feel comfortable turning to me, when they need someone to listen, explain something clearly, or be present during a difficult moment,” Henry said. “That instinct to connect with others has shaped nearly every decision I've made about my future.”
He said his first path towards his goal was earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, after which he said he was “convinced to further pursue” his relationship with “science, behavior and well-being.
“Through my academic and research experiences, I developed a deeper appreciation for understanding people,” he said. “But I began to recognize that I wanted a career, where I could translate that understanding into more immediate, tangible care.
“My experiences working directly with patients further clarified that desire,” he added, stating that he found satisfaction in “building trust, communicating with people from different backgrounds, and helping patients feel supported throughout their care.
“I realized I didn't want to simply understand what someone was experiencing, but to be part of helping them through it,” Henry continued. “That realization led me to nursing.”
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BMWC member Dominican-born RN Alexandrina Sampson, right, receives awards for service to the group from Dr. Virginia Bernard.Nelson A. King[/caption]
But he said he never wanted a career defined solely by financial success, but to work “to have a purpose beyond a paycheck.
“Nursing gives me the opportunity to combine the scientific foundation I developed through psychology and other science courses with the qualities that have always come naturally to me,” said Henry, now a nursing student at the prestigious Columbia University in New York.
“I'm blessed to turn my realization into a career,” he added. “I never thought I would be in this position so quickly. So, I will not waste the opportunities given to me — most importantly, the opportunity to leave each day knowing that I can make someone's life a little better.”
Dr. Virginia Bernard, the Jamaican-born BMWC president, said the organization has, to date, awarded 60 scholarships to students who are attending college and majoring in the health field.
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Dr. Virginia Bernard, the Jamaican-born BMWC president, addresses the gala ceremony.Nelson A. King[/caption]
“Today marks the 29th year of the Vernese Weekes Scholarship Luncheon and the 30th year of the chapter,” she told the ceremony. “As we move forward with feelings of satisfaction and enthusiasm, let us focus on our purpose to help educate our young people to make a difference in their lives and the community.”
Dr. Bernard said another area of “tremendous concern” to BMWC is accessible health care, “especially for the underserved and elderly population, who are struggling, especially at this time to access health care and basic needs.
“We are very aware of the increasing use of medication and treatment of diseases, and the complexity of medication management, especially for the older population,” she said.