COGNISANT of the social and economic challenges facing many Guyanese as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Lodge Housing Scheme Community Beautification Group on Friday distributed 25 hampers to vulnerable families within the Lodge Housing Scheme.

The hampers included flour, rice, potatoes, cooking oil, soap, toilet paper, face masks, sanitisers and gloves. The Lodge Housing Scheme Community Beautification Group, founded by Attorney-at-Law Mayo Robertson, targeted the most vulnerable families within the area.

Robertson told the Guyana Chronicle that the group thought it fitting to conduct the outreach because of the challenges many families are experiencing as a result of the restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. In Guyana, emergency measures include a 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs curfew and the closure of schools and non-essential businesses.

“It is our commitment to improve the quality of life in the Lodge Housing Scheme,” Robertson told this newspaper, noting that the hampers donated will provide some measure of relief to the beneficiaries.

“COVID has shown that there is a certain equality in humankind and anything that can be done to help the least of us lifts all of us. Our group believes in the notion that the community is our extended family,” the attorney said.

According to Robertson, the response from the beneficiaries was “heartwarming.”
Among the beneficiaries was an 80-year-old woman. Evan McDavid, the woman’s daughter, told this newspaper that her mother was thankful for the contribution. “It was a very good gesture, very good,” McDavid said.
Simone Kowlessar – a 45-year-old mother of nine – said the hamper contained useful items and came at a time when there is a great need.

Owing to financial constraints, the Lodge Housing Scheme Community Beautification Group will do its next distribution exercise after the outbreak ends. “We don’t have other drives planned, mainly because of the group’s limited financial resources. But when gatherings are once again permitted and we are able to engage in planned fundraisers, we would like to repeat the distribution,” Robertson said.

He noted that the group is open to all residents and meets the second Sunday in each month at Mr. Benjamin’s Domino Club, 68 Hadfield Street. However, meetings will resume only after the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. The Lodge Housing Scheme Community Beautification Group is run by a steering committee, whose current members are Rawl Fraser, Faye Nurse, Telitta Franklin, Erin Kirton and Mayo Robertson.