For 25 years, Andre and Jan McBean have been in agreement about helping people in need. They volunteer together locally doing just about anything for Women’s Coalition’s events.
Jan says there is always something one can do for special events, from fundraising to set-up and transportation. About 25 years ago Mary Mingus, co-director of the coalition, convinced Jan to help out at Women’s Coalition. Andre, a man who believes in good causes, happily joined his wife doing the heavy lifting and bartending at events.
Andre also serves the community as a member of the Gentlemen of Jones and People United for a Better Virgin Islands.
In 2008, under those organizations, Andre organized the shipping of relief containers to hurricane ravaged Haiti. Andre says he has been helping the needy in his native Haiti for as long as he can remember.
Andre was influenced by his mother, Vivian McBean, to give charity to the less fortunate. As far back as he can remember the first Saturday of the month they would ride all around the Haitian countryside in a bus and give food to poor people.
“I saw poverty and really appreciated how well I had it,” Andre says. His mother, who operated a mahogany woodworking business, eventually opened a school and a small clinic.
Andre came to St. Croix 44 years ago to visit a friend on his way to visit an aunt in Monterey, Cal. He missed the flight and that was it. His aunt came to visit him on St. Croix instead.
Andre, an accountant, retired from the accounting department at Hovensa. That was where he first got involved in PUBVI and he continues that involvement. He was trained as a cabinet and furniture artisan in his mom’s factory and decided to not leave those skills behind as he now works with mahogany.
When asked about the cure for abuse, both McBeans agreed it has to start with educating people.
Jan, who has also volunteered at the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, says it is even about teaching children that abuse of all animals is cruel.
“It has to begin in the schools,” Jan says. “There are three generations of women raising children without childrearing skills.”
Jan, who is originally from Maine, is a real estate appraiser.
The couple will probably be helping behind the scenes of the next Women’s Coalition event, the Women Race, later this month.
