Hi neighbour! Knowing that neighbours are always willing to help out neighbours in dire straits gives me an enormous amount of satisfaction and the impetus to continue garnering assistance for the needy. These dear souls help to energise me weekly as letters and calls from destitute neighbours flood our office.

If you are the caring type, you can understand how distressing it is, at times, to watch a needy neighbour go away empty-handed because of limited resources. There may be an unemployed single mother with five mouths to feed or an elderly gentleman who needs a wheelchair. To hear someone call, after publishing these needs, to say, 'Yes, I will help this one or that one' is music to one's ear.

As the company of givers continues to increase, there is growing optimism that, sooner or later, no child in Jamaica will go to bed without a meal. Thousands of generous neighbours are out there and are coming to their aid at the drop of a hat. If you have not yet joined the throng, what are you waiting for? There is still room!

Here is an example of a letter from Carla. Be inspired to help as you read.

Dear Maas Gussie,

Please see information below on three persons who need some neighbourly intervention. I am a social worker. In my job, I come across a lot of needy persons - some I can help, some I cannot. Hence my reason for this request. If you can change any of their lives this Christmas, it would be great.

Number 1

Mr Raymond resides in August Town. He lives in what used to be a two-bedroom house. This, however, is no more as the roof of the dwelling has caved in, forcing him to reside on the veranda of his dwelling. On his veranda, he is exposed to the elements. He suffers from diabetes, hypertension and chronic asthma. Mr Raymond is humble and appreciative, and any assistance given will make his Christmas so special.

Number 2

Ms Dennis is 62 years old. She resides with her son and grandson. She is unemployed and pays rental of $20,000 per month. Her son assists her but his job cannot carry this financial burden much longer. Ms Dennis' mother, Ms Scott, is 86 years old and has been in the Spanish Town Hospital for two years as a result of a fire at her home in Hellshire, during which she received burns to a significant part of her body.

Her daughter, Ms Dennis, would love to take her mother out of the hospital but cannot afford to do so, as she has no space to accommodate her. She needs help in repairing her mother's house so she can take her from the hospital, as she was discharged two years ago. Please, help her. She needs about 10 sheets of zinc, eight pieces of board, two doors and three windows. Please help to make Christmas a special one for Ms Dennis and her mother.

Number 3

In March, Ms Morgan was shot in her breast and hand by a stray bullet. As a result, she lost everything she owned. They were stolen by persons in the community. She was also separated from her two daughters, 18 and 19. They were taken to Manchester by a friend who heard of her plight. Since March she has been sleeping and living in Coronation Market.

She needs help to get back on her feet. She is willing to do some selling in order to make a living and rent a place for herself and her daughters as she so wants to reunite with her family. She no longer has the use of her left hand.

Please, help her, because if you do, you will not only be making Christmas special, but will be giving her a second chance to make her life meaningful.

Carol, please note that we have published the plight of these three neighbours with the strongest confidence that neighbours will respond positively. Neighbours, let's resolve these.

Silton Townsend, author of Hello Mi Neighbour, is best known for his character portrayal of 'Maas Gussie' in the once-aired local sitcom, 'Lime Tree Lane'.

Bruce Bowen, Scotiabank president and CEO, speaks with 99-year-old Adelaide Levene, the longest-serving member of Coke Methodist Church, in downtown Kingston Sunday during a service to celebrate Scotiabank's 120th anniversary of operations in Jamaica. Lay leader Colin Steer on Sunday urged corporate entities to do more to rescue the poor. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer

Thanks for your help

1. Faith, for offering to assist Annette in St Andrew, caring for children in need.

2. Paula, St Catherine, for giving a double bed to Sandra in Kingston.

3. Jackie, Kingston, for assisting Diane, St James, with chickens for rearing.

4. Mr Cross, St Catherine, for also providing chickens to Janice, for rearing.

5. Ann-Marie, Clarendon, for providing two beds to a mother of three.

6. Pamella, St Catherine, for offering a refrigerator to a neighbour in need.

7. Mrs Scott, St Mary, for donating a crib to anyone in need.

8. Ms Brown, St Catherine, for donating a crib, car seat, baby clothing and shoes.

Opportunities to help neighbours

1. Olga, 75, St Elizabeth, crippled from waist down; her husband uses a wheelchair. Olga does a lot of embroidery work and is soliciting purchases so she can take care of her bills.

2. Ms Campbell, St Andrew, got a stroke and has many other illnesses; Asking neighbours for a bed.

3. Ms Brown, elderly, sleeping on the floor; asking neighbours for a mattress.

4. Tanya, unable to work because of a medical condition; needs clothing for six- and seven-year-old girls. She also wants to sell phonecards as an income earner.

5. Cleveland, confined to a wheelchair; asking neighbours for a battery to give wheelchair full mobility.

6. Sophia, whose children go to bed many nights without food. She's asking neighbours to help, especially a stove.

7. Odette, St Catherine, HEART student, in need of a chef's knife and other equipment. Father has medical challenges.

8. Shari, St Catherine, mother of three; asking neighbours for a stove to earn a living.

9. Neighbour, seeking help for a pastor living in a very poor condition.

10. Ms Ricketts, Portland, disabled, unable to work.

11. Ms Ivy, Westmoreland, 83, requesting assistance to replace her bicycle; she's still able to ride.

12. Gretel, has cancer; tablets are very expensive.

To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or email neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link. Those who desire to make financial donations to this project may make deposits to account 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank; bank routing password JNCBJMKX.