ST. CROIX — A combination of grassroots fundraising and a pivotal $40,000 donation from the Hamed brothers is set to transform daily life for adults with disabilities at Yellow Cedar Residence on St. Thomas, providing reliable, wheelchair-accessible transportation for medical care, work programs, and community activities.
Hisham “Shawn” Hamed, Waleed “Wally” Hamed, Mufeed “Mafi” Hamed, and Waheed “Willie” Hamed — owners of The Market and Moe’s Fresh Market — made the contribution after learning additional funds were needed to complete the purchase of a van that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands.
The moment came during a recent LSSVI board meeting attended by Waleed Hamed, who has served on the board for more than a year. Chief Executive Officer Junia John-Straker told board members that more than $37,000 had already been raised through donations from St. Thomas businesses and community supporters.
“In the middle of that, Mr. Hamed said, ‘how much did you say you needed?’” John-Straker told WTJX. “I said we need an additional $40,000, and he said, ‘we’ll give you the $40,000.’”
The unexpected pledge drew a stunned reaction.
“Everybody was looking at each other like, ‘really, did he say that?’” she said. “I kind of asked him to repeat what he just said.”
The brothers later confirmed the gift as part of a broader commitment to community service rooted in family values.
“Our father taught us that business success means nothing if you are not lifting others along the way,” the Hamed brothers said in a joint statement. “Giving back is not optional. It is part of who we are. We believe that every person deserves dignity, independence, and the ability to move freely within their community. We are honored to support the residents of Yellow Cedar and proud to continue our father’s legacy through service.”
Waleed Hamed echoed that sentiment, noting their late father’s influence.
“Our father instilled in his children to always help when they can and often reflected on having a positive impact on our community, which he cared deeply for, as we do,” he said in a text message to WTJX.
John-Straker said in a statement that the Hamed’s donation represents “family leadership at its finest.”
“The Hamed brothers exemplify what it means to honor a father’s legacy, not only by building successful businesses but by building a stronger community,” she said in a statement. “Because of their generosity, our residents will experience greater mobility, dignity, and opportunity.”
LSSVI said the donation closes a critical funding gap and allows the organization to move forward with purchasing a specialized ADA-accessible van for Yellow Cedar Residence, a group home in Estate Anna’s Retreat that provides 24-hour care for low-income adults with developmental and physical disabilities.
For residents — including about four who use wheelchairs — transportation is directly tied to independence and quality of life. Currently, the facility relies on the Virgin Islands Public Transit System, which presents logistical challenges as the buses stop operating at 7 p.m. and are not available on weekends.
“It’s really important for the mental health of the residents that we’re able to allow them to participate in other functions that everyone else can participate in,” John-Straker said. “This ADA van will really come in handy for the residents, so I’m really excited about the possibility and just really was happy and thankful to the Hamed brothers.”
The vehicle will also improve access to medical care.
“It becomes very challenging to make medical appointments when you’re dependent on VITRAN because VITRAN picks up multiple people, and sometimes you end up late,” John-Straker said. “So, it’s really, really critical to our residents that we get a vehicle that we can utilize to take them to medical appointments, especially.”
LSSVI is now working with a vendor to acquire a van that will be retrofitted for wheelchair accessibility. While previously ordered vehicles have taken five to eight months to arrive in the territory, John-Straker said the timeline for this model remains uncertain but could be shorter.
The new vehicle will be the first ADA-accessible van purchased specifically for Yellow Cedar Residence on St. Thomas. A previously donated vehicle that accommodated a single wheelchair is no longer in usable condition.
Meanwhile, LSSVI is also working to replace a similar vehicle on St. Croix that was recently totaled in an accident. Insurance is expected to cover a portion of the cost, but additional fundraising will be needed to secure a replacement.
Despite that setback, John-Straker said the organization remains focused on expanding accessible transportation across the territory.
“Our goal is to allow the residents at Yellow Cedar to live as a comfortable and normal life as possible,” she said. “And what that would mean to them is that if there’s a function in the evening, they can participate. It just allows them to do what everybody else can do.”
