Hi Neighbour! Ever stopped to think of how we can all be of value to one another? How we can help to ease the anger and hunger of others and enjoy more blessings?

You take it from me, Gussie, the more we see the next person as a neighbour to care for, the more valuable we will become and the better off we will be. As we all know, one of our basic illnesses is selfishness. That's why we are so cruel to one another!

And you know what? We can all work together to get rid of this malady that no medical doctor can remedy. So we're going to work together as spiritual and social doctors and deal with this thing.

As I remember, growing up in the good old days, we used to do a lot of sharing and giving. My mother used to bring back a lot of nice clothes for us as children whenever she came to town. And she didn't buy them. Her Kingston 'neighbours' gave them to her. They were second-hand clothes, but one could hardly tell.

Tough times

I remember how people used to carry dinner for one another and wash clothes for one another and things like those. Not saying that people don't share anymore, but we need to see more people pitching in and doing something tangible to help someone else, especially in these tough times. If when I hurt, you hurt, what an earth! When we begin to share with one another as the Good Book says, we will be less selfish and less cruel to one another. And guess what ... blessings will fall on us like rain. Trus' mi.

Can you imagine giving a poor mother a thousand dollars to purchase food for her hungry children and the supermarket owner giving you five baskets of groceries in return? Or can you imagine helping a poor child through school and he or she ends up being your doctor? Can you imagine saving an asthmatic child from sleeping on the floor by giving the mother a bed for her needy children? Wow! This can be a reality!

As you might recognise by this, we are starting a column in this newspaper called Hello Mi Neighbour. Many children go to school and even to bed at night with hunger biting them. Some of them wear almost bottomless shoes to school. Some have no school uniform or casual wear for that matter.

Some families have no stove, no bed, no table, nothing. At the same time, there are many other people who would want to help some of these people. Problem is, they don't know who they are or where to find them. Well, we are here to help solve that problem! Below is a list of situations in which you CAN make a difference!

Before telling you who and who from where and where need what and what, however, I have to tell a few people thanks publicly.

1. Thanks to Paulette from St Mary, who is volunteering to assist an elderly neighbour in the parish who needs special care. Thanks also to Althea from Manchester, who is donating diapers to an elderly neighbour.

2. Plenty thanks to Sharolee from St Catherine, who has given a mattress to Beverly from Manchester to help with her nightly comfort after an accident. Thanks also to Audrey from St Andrew, for donating a wheelchair to Beverly to help with her mobility.

3. Thanking Beverly from St Catherine, for offering a bed to Simone to help with her children's nightly rest.

4. Must say many thanks to Kathleen from Manchester, who is helping out a neighbour who needs windows. The neighbour is currently using cardboard as windows.

5. Saying thanks to Pauline from St Andrew, who is helping an elderly neighbour from St Andrew with blankets, a walking stick and food items.

Here's how you can help

Now for some of those who are in need of your help. Don't think you are too helpless to help or too poor to give! These are real-life situations which you can change. To help, please call 906-3167 or 884-3866 and we will make the link up. Discover the satisfaction of giving!

a. A mother of three small children from St Catherine is asking neighbours for a bed to help the family sleep a little more comfortably at night.

b. A mother turned out of her home with two small children is trying to start again. She needs a bed, a table and a stove.

c. Husband got a stroke and unable to work. Roof is leaking badly. His wife is asking neighbours to assist.

d. A mother of six is facing crisis. She needs a stove, mattress and clothing for children.

e. Due to a physical challenge, a woman has been out of a job. She wants to do a little baking as a business but she doesn't have a stove. She's asking neighbours for a second-hand one.

f. A house is falling apart, with six children exposed to danger. Asking neighbours for zinc and plywood, etc.

g. Unemployed with a child. Asking neighbours for second-hand furniture.