Over a dozen families from Tiger Bay, Georgetown, were presented with food and medicinal hampers yesterday, as part of a community outreach programme undertaken by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport, in partnership with German’s Restaurant.
At the beginning of the outreach, a group of youth volunteers, along with minister, Dr. George Norton, the Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, proceeded though the streets of Tiger Bay, greeting locals and handing out gifts and fliers.
At the end of the outreach, 15 families were gifted with hampers filled with food and medical supplies. An interactive sessions on art and robotics for youths commenced soon after.
In addition to that, there was a health booth, where residents were able to check their blood pressure and acquire medication for various illnesses.
According to Melissa Carmichael, Director of the “Volunteers Build Resilient Communities” volunteer group, formed in association with the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport, the outreach, which is one of the first of several planned outreaches around the country, materialised after it was realised that there is a great social and economic need in various communities apart from education and training.
“In order to get to school, these children have to eat and some families barely have enough food in their houses to send some of their children to school” she said. “We not only believe in training and academics but we recognize the culture of volunteerism and paying it forward,” she further commented.
The initiative, called “Inspiring Youths”, is set to benefit more than seven communities across the country during the course of the year.
After receiving her hamper, a mom said, “I’m so grateful, the hamper is for my entire family. Respect and blessings to everyone who contributed and participated in this outreach.”
Another added, “I’m so happy, now my kids will have a feast like never before.”
German’s Hubert Urling immediately agreed to fund the outreach after being approached by Carmichael, who was asking for contributions. “I agreed to support this outreach because German’s has been operating in the community and we are obligated to give back to the people here,” he said.
Urling added that the restaurant has been involved in similar initiatives before and is committed to participating in future outreaches.
German’s Restaurant will also be providing meals for the families who received hampers for an entire week.
Jillian Favourite, one of the volunteers, expressed her feelings to this newspaper, saying how happy it made her feel to see the joy and excitement in the residents’ faces. “A week before, we were handing out fliers in this area to inform locals about this outreach. We visited homes and selected 15 of the most needy families to whom we will gift the hampers,” she added.
Mayor Narine and Minister Norton both commented on how pleased they were to participate in the outreach. “The feeling is overwhelming, seeing these kids joyful and happy,” Narine said, while Dr. Norton stated, “Youths have a leading role in this community, and we will assist and continue to empower the youths of this community.”
