Wheelchair donation brightens season for St Catherine woman
Published:Friday | December 22, 2023 | 12:09 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
When members of the Greater GIVE (Giving Inspires Victory in Everyone) Foundation based in Spanish Town, St Catherine, visited Vevine Street at her home off March Pen Road on Thursday, she greeted them with tear-filled eyes after realising that they came to hand her a much-needed wheelchair.
The one-legged woman, who lost her left leg nearly six years ago, due to diabetes, explained to The Gleaner how difficult it has been to function around the house without a wheelchair or crutch.
“Thank you, God! Bless you,” she said in almost a whisper as she wiped her eyes that were raised to the heavens.
With her vision later fixed on foundation directors Michael Tulloch and Enroy Thomas and volunteer Kenroy Graham, she expressed gratitude for their kindness.
“God bless unuh all ... because me did wah go me church, me wah worship me God and send my message (testimony) [about] what God has done for me,” she told them.
Street also received a care package of food items and toiletries as well as bags of sorrel buds and ginger.
Revealing her darkened knees as she spoke to The Gleaner, Street explained that she has had to creep on the floor to move around her home and lamented that the upkeep of her house had been neglected because she is unable to carry out certain chores frequently.
“Me like fi clean up me area, y’know. You see the mess a me yard now? It terrible,” she said.
“You see how me knee black ... . A me knee me haffi use do everything,” said Street, who lives alone.
Saving towards prosthetic leg
While grateful for her early Christmas gift, Street is hopeful to one day be able to purchase a prosthetic leg to make life easier.
She told The Gleaner that currently, she is saving towards this goal, but so far, this dream seems unattainable, given that the prosthetic leg costs approximately $250,000.
“Me no have as much money, but mi a work pon it, ... but me kinda sad because this [kind of living] me nuh used to,” she said.
Tulloch told The Gleaner that he and the other members of the foundation would make every effort to connect with individuals to see if they could help with the sourcing of the prosthetic.
He noted that the Christmas programme started last year as they spread the season’s cheer by donating food parcels and attending to specialised needs in various communities across the island.
“We really reaching out to the people who really can’t help themselves and don’t have anything,” Tulloch said, noting that 150 packages would be distributed this year.
He added that the success of the programme is also dependent on community members, who have recommended individuals in desperate need of assistance.
Thomas added that with the foundation also lending a hand to schools through the establishment of lunch programmes, among other things, their purpose was to “meet the people dem in such demand [and] try to help them”.
Tulloch further noted that the foundation sought to make people happy as they also enjoy the warm feeling being able to help brings them as they witness the positive impact they are making.
“That is what really drives us – when you see the appreciation they show by their reactions,” he said.
Thomas stated that the group wishes for all Jamaicans to have a wonderful Christmas season and to live in love and happiness and continue to share with the less fortunate.