Although it is the moral obligation of governments to look after the welfare of their senior citizens, charities make their presence felt from time to time with donations to this section of society.
The Guyana government has been  equal to the task of providing the conditions to create comfort to these people, with various interventions from time to time. Indeed, this group of people are the gems of our society, and deserve to count the remaining days of their lives with a deep sense of purpose  and satisfaction.
It is on this note that we salute the efforts of the  New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission which recently made a donation of clothing to residents of the Palms Geriatric Home.
We must recognise the fact that residents of this home have , once upon a time, played important roles in our society, and it is now our turn to see them through the final leg of their journey on earth.
We must not forget that it was on the backs of these worn-out soles that we have climbed to build a society that provides equal opportunities for all of us. Indeed, we must have the rectitude of recognising their contributions to society in their past life.
The New Jersey Humanitarian Mission has been spreading its wings beyond  religious considerations and has made generous donations  to various institutions in this country from time to time.
Now that they have extended their arms to the Palms Geriatric Home, the people applaud the work of this U.S.-based religious organisation.
It will be remiss for us not to acknowledge the humanitarian work carried out by this religious organisation over the years to individuals, groups and institutions in Guyana from time to time.
We recall the recent donation of wheelchairs by this organisation to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The wheelchair donation is only one of the several humanitarian acts carried out in Guyana by the U.S.-based  Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission.
Guyana has quite a few institutions and homes that cater for the old, less fortunate and impaired persons that require assistance from time to time. It would therefore be appreciated if, like the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission, other Guyanese-based local and foreign organisations could come on board and make their presence felt by making life for residents of the various institutions worth living.
It is our duty to assist in whatever way we could, the senior citizens of this country, especially those who are housed in homes for them.
We need to appreciate the fact that age, one day, catches up with all of us and tomorrow we would be there no more.
While we are on the younger side today, let us therefore resolve to assist the older folks as Mark Twain said: “ The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chances; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity.”
Let us all continue to help brighten up the lives of all those less fortunate people in our society by simply making even a token contribution.