Love and hope have once again found their way into the halls of Goshen Trust Samoa, as a generous donation from members of the Seventh Day Adventist rekindled spirits of patients and volunteers at the clinic.

Representatives from the Seventh Day Adventist districts of Anoamaa to Vaimauga visited the medical center in Moamoa, bringing with them essential food items like sacks of rice, breakfast crackers, canned fish, and boxes of milk to support individuals diagnosed with mental illness. This act of kindness has been a tradition for the congregation for 14 years, but it marks a significant first for this specific church zone to contribute to Goshen Trust in such a manner.

Goshen Trust Chief Executive Officer Afitu Naomi Eshraghi expressed immense gratitude to the congregation during an interview with the Samoa Observer on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of their support for the clinic and its patients.

"This donation means the world to our patients here at the clinic, and we are truly thankful for the ongoing spiritual prayers and assistance from the church," said Afitu.

Speaking on behalf of Goshen Trust during the donation presentation, Tuatagaloa Joe Annadale commended the Seventh Day Adventist Church for their genuine display of love in action, stating that their deeds spoke louder than words.

Taupaolo Hurrell, a representative of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, shared that the donation was a collaborative effort of eight women fellowship groups from each church in the Anoamaa and Vaimauga districts.

"We are here to spread love, as it is meant to be shared with all. Typically, our donations go to Mapuifagalele, but since some branches of our Ministry have already attended to that, we decided to lend a helping hand to the clinic here in their important work," remarked Taupaolo Hurrell.

A small ceremony was held at the Goshen Trust Office on Saturday to symbolize the donation, with additional donations of clothing materials provided to the 11 present patients, many of whom are diagnosed with schizophrenia.

CEO Afitu mentioned that the clinic faces challenges with staffing as the number of patients continues to grow each year. With the support of the Advent Christians, there is renewed hope for the clinic to receive the necessary boost.

"We struggle to secure funding for the clinic and maintain its services, as many of our staff members volunteer their time, with some even having to seek better job opportunities overseas," shared Afitu with the newspaper.

The Goshen Trust is not for profit organisation and the only such institution in the country that has in-patient care for people diagnosed with mental illness.