Community volunteer ‘adopts’ centenarians
Published:Saturday | February 6, 2021 | 1:15 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston/Gleaner Writer
Clarendon resident Lascelles Simmonds has his hands full these days with five adopted ‘babies’ – all centenarians.
The president of the Spaldings Development Area Committee (DAC), who sits on the Clarendon Parish Development Committee, says he has always been looking out for children, hosting several treats for them under the umbrella organisation, with the help of Custos William Shagoury.
Commenting on his decision to take them under his wings, Simmonds said that the thought came to him one year at a treat at which more than 600 children were catered to.
“I remember the need was there for some elderly people around, and I thought that was bigger than us. I thought that was for the politicians, because I could not have done everything. However, I jokingly mentioned that, if you are 100 years old or older, then I would adopt you all,” he shared with The Gleaner.
A snide remark by a youngster – “if mi nuh see say dem deh people deh soon dead” – angered Simmonds and made him more determined to care for the elderly.
He ventured into the communities that fall under the Spaldings DAC – Sanguinetti, White Shop and others – and started seeking out centenarians.
Simmonds and other members of the DAC then began doing “nice things” for them – birthday parties, visits, bringing them food and just being there to give whatever support is needed when they can.
Simmonds, who shared that he has “neither mother, father, nor grandmother”, said that, while he may not have the financial means to support his babies, being a farmer, he shares whatever is in season whenever he pays them a visit.
If there is one regret he has where the DAC is concerned, it is that challenge getting the youth engaged in whatever initiatives they have going.
“We do try to get the young people involved, but, economically, we cannot keep them in the community. They leave and go elsewhere to find opportunities,” he said.
Simmonds mentioned that the youth shun financially viable projects as they are impatient and are not willing to invest the time it will take to see them through.
“We have aquaponics projects going, but it seemingly wasting because it cannot turn over money for the young people right now. They lack vision and can’t see past their noses,” said Simmonds.