The Independent member for Humber-Bay of Islands is back home from Africa after delivering nearly 250-thousand meals to hungry children and seniors in Uganda.

Eddie Joyce and his family make the trip to Africa each year.

They’re part of a charitable organization that helps to treat children from parasitic infections.

Jiggers are parasites found in the sand, and can get into the feet of people who walk barefoot. They can cripple people if left untreated.

Joyce says some children he helped had hundreds of parasites in their feet.

He and numerous other Newfoundlanders also delivered clothing, footballs and other essentials to the third-world country during their trip.

“We did a lot of work over there this year. It was great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they become jigger-free and when they (get) a new pair of shoes,” says Joyce.

“We delivered a lot of clothes to a lot of people, especially in the interior of Uganda who may have a torn-up shirt, may not have any. We delivered a lot of shoes, a lot of clothes. It was just a great adventure all around, and that’s over and above all the other things we did in the last number of years.”