TWO service organizations, Lions and Rotary in East Berbice, recently joined to donate mobile chairs to two differently able residents of New Amsterdam and East Canje.

One beneficiary, Juliet Arjune, a 68-year-old former sugar industry field worker suffered a stroke and has been a cancer patient for the past eight years.

The Victoria Street, Cumberland resident lives with her daughter and son-in-law, who are both unemployed.

Speaking to the media, the former, Rohinie Arjune said it is very difficult for them to take care of her stricken mother and they survive on the woman’s pension, her National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits and the benevolence of other persons.

Arjune expressed gratitude to the benefactors for their timely gesture in less than a month of their request.

The other recipient, eight-year-old Azad Hussein, of Lot  47 Stanleytown, Greater New Amsterdam, who is a pupil of School of the Nations, was born with a spinal defect and is unable to walk without assistance.

His grandmother, Zorina Khan said her extended family has eight members and the boy is the eldest of three siblings.

Azad’s mother, Zafeena Ali said it is very challenging  to move around and look after him.

She said, despite his limited capabilities, he is hyperactive and behaves like a normal child.

Ali also thanked the East Canje Lions Club and the Rotary Club for their compassionate gesture

Lions President Devin Sookraj said they always try to help families in need, as it is part of their mandate.

He said they were enthused to partner the Rotarians who visited the respective families prior to making the donations.

Rotary President, Dr. Ganesh said the chairs were supplied by a sister club in Trinidad which accessed them from Wheelchair Foundation in the United States.

Ganesh said, to date, 42 such chairs have been handed over to similarly handicapped persons in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).