In 1994 a small cadre of the Jamaican Diaspora residing in the Palm Beaches of Florida State decided to support a little woman with big faith and a bigger vision: Change Trench Town to impact Jamaica, the Caribbean and the World.  The “little” woman with the big faith and bigger vision is Lorna Stanley.  It is now 21 years since Operation Restoration first started its ministry to the under-served in the Trench Town community in the nation of Jamaica.

Over the past 21 years, Ms. Stanley – or Miss Lorna, as she is known in Trench Town – has, one child at a time, managed to make great strides in impacting Trench Town and Jamaica.  Lorna set up a remedial learning center in the heart of Trench Town, Operation Restoration Christian School.  Among her students, she accepted boys brought by seasoned gunmen who wanted the youth to have options they did not.  Many in their teens were unable to read but, with OR’s help, 20% of ORCS graduates were able to matriculate into mainstream High Schools.  Despite coming out of a culture steeped in violence, thanks to the ORCS influence, some even served as (disciplinary) Head Monitors, Prefects and Student Counselors at the High School level.  3% of ORCS students in High Schools matriculated into College or University.  Other success stories include Head Chef, Web Designer, Police Officer, as well as mechanics, cosmetologists and entrepreneurs.

In addition to educational development, Miss Lorna and Operation Restoration contributed to community empowerment.  Community persons were assisted with starting their own businesses: Chicken farming, Block making and Leather craft.

Lorna Stanley’s and Operation Restoration’s work and impact in Trench Town and to the nation has been of such great significance that Ms. Stanley and Operation Restoration were recognized and honored by Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, the University of the West Indies and the British High Commission (a committed sponsor).  Furthermore, OR Founder, Ms. Lorna Stanley, was honored in 2014 by the Government of Jamaica with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer, the nation’s third highest civilian award.

Friends of Operation Restoration wishes to recognize and thank all those who made these achievements possible by the roles they played with their prayers, help, encouragement and financial support.  All are invited to attend a:
21st Anniversary Dinner Celebration/Fundraiser
6:30pm, Friday, November 13, 2015

Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way (off Okeechobee Blvd.), Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

Tickets: $35.00

Guest Speaker that evening will be Ms. Denise Adams, Project Manager of SWOTT (Strong Women Of Trench Town), the community arm of Operation Restoration.  The program will include video testimonies from students, parents, staff, community residents and Jamaican artists along with entertainment by Gospel Singer, Mr. Gallimore, who originated from Trench Town, and Cheryl in Song, a Jamaican-born Jazz and Inspirational artiste.  Souvenir T-shirts with images of Trench Town and other memorabilia will  be offered for donations.   Proceeds from the evening will benefit SWOTT and the Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) project.