CATEGORY:SPECIAL EVENT
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By Team Grenada
Inside Grenada
Wednesday December 20,2006


GRENVILLE, St. Andrew’s: In keeping with the Christmas spirit and maintaining an atmosphere of love, joy, happiness and philanthropy which is synonymous with this time of year, the St. Andrew’s Senior Citizens’ Support Group, headed by well-known St. Andrew’s cricketer, Robert “Wap” Hopkin, was able to bring some Christmas cheer to some of the senior citizens of St.Andrew’s this year.

Last Sunday (December 17), approximately 150 senior residents in the parish were able to receive a Christmas feast through the initiative and hard work of this organization, which is now in its second year of existence. The St.Andrew’s R.C. School was used as the venue for this very admirable exercise. Over seventy-five (75) elderly citizens who were unable to make it to the function had their lunches dropped-off at their homes. Those who attended the exercise were treated to sweet Christmas music from DJ Hot Wax as well as from local musicians like Mr. Ramie, Mr. Elijah and Mr. Coxall.

The St. Andrew’s Senior Citizens’ Support Group was able to successfully host this event for the second year running, through the generous donations given by local as well as foreign-based supporters of the group. Dr. Noel, the resident doctor at the Princess Alice Hospital, was present during the exercise to offer medical assistance to any of the ‘guests of honor’ should that be required. Transportation to and from the function was provided by the Grenville Bus Association as their contribution towards this praise-worthy exercise.

When interviewed by Grenadian Connection (GC), which was there to cover the entire function, the head of the organization, Mr. Robert Hopkin expressed the intention of the group to make the assistance given to the elderly in the parish an ‘all-year’ exercise rather than a ‘one-off’ function around Christmas time. He stated that the group intends to get registered and put the necessary structures in place to better manage its resources. In addition to the food programme, they would like to see the group being in a position to offer transportation services to senior citizens who need to receive financial assistance, as well as other forms of support for the aged persons in the area.

The organizers, through GC, wishes to thank everyone who contributed towards the exercise and helped to make it the success that it turned out o be. They would like to see more members of the corporate community coming on board to make it possible for the group to broaden its assistance to the elderly citizens in the country, who would have made serious and significant contributions towards the development of the parish during their working years.

One note of disappointment sounded by the organizers, however, was that the four Parliamentary Representatives for the parish of St. Andrew’s did not show-up at the function, even though they were invited.