Race Track native invests in community, brings Christmas cheer

Gilbert Daley migrated from Race Track in Clarendon to live in the United States of America (USA), but his love for his community has not waned.

Daley, along with others who migrated from the community, has been assisting to uplift the vulnerable there through a special group called the ‘Blessing Crew’.

Expounding on the group, he said they consist of three young women whose work is to go through the community, identify the elderly who need help, as well as students who are having challenges, and provide feedback to them. Once the resources are dispatched, the crew collects and dispatch them.

Daley, commenting on the initiative in an interview with The Gleaner, said it has always been his desire to give back and uplift the community, making life better for those he left behind.

Explaining the birth of the initiative, he said it started two years ago when his neighbour Kirk Edward, who also lives in the USA, decided to use a WhatsApp group and bring together all those who migrated from the community and link them with residents, to offer assistance to those who needed it.

“Out of that vision, a blog was formed, and quickly grew, as we were all excited and willing to give a helping hand,” he told The Gleaner.

Daley is also involved in another initiative in the community organised by the Albert Thomas Foundation, with its focus being to give books, schools supplies and clothing at an annual fun day event at the community square.

So far, through the Blessing Crew, the team has managed to fund the construction of a house for a fellow citizen who lost a leg and fell on hard times. At least once per month, the elderly in the community are each given a basket of groceries to supplement their needs.

“These projects are accomplished by voluntary contributions from those who love and want to see Race Track becoming a better place. Within the past year, there were at least two double murders, one triple murder, and another single killing. These incidents have been tarnishing the entire community and I want to encourage residents to continue to hold faith and know that a better day is coming for Race Track,” are his impassioned words.

Daley said his ultimate goal where the community is concerned, is to see residents getting to live their dreams, rid the community of violence, and start to invest in others as they, too, succeed.

As the Christmas season approaches, he said he along with his team will be doing the usual care packages, ‘with a little extra’, and on Boxing Day, there will be a cookout in the square for all to enjoy.

cecelia.campbell@gleanerjm.com