MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

Residents of the Ebenezer Home for the Mentally Challenged were beaming with joy while being treated by members of the Emanuel Missionary Church on Ward Avenue last Friday.

The home was built by private citizens, including the late Bishop Neville Neil, in the 1990s, to relieve the streets of the town of the large population of persons who were homeless or mentally challenged.

Although at its inception, the home, headed by the Reverend Clarister Johnson of the New Beulah Moravian Church, was intended to accommodate these persons on a short-term basis, some have become permanent residents.

While at the home, residents are bathed, given necessary medical attention, clothing and counselling, resulting in many becoming productive citizens. A chicken-rearing and mini-farming project helps to keep the inmates active as well as offset food cost.

Reverend Johnson, who at times digs into her pockets to purchase supplies for the institution, was grateful for the assistance she receives from a few business persons and, in particular, Top Loaf Bakery, which supplies bread weekly free of charge.

Gift packages

She, however, lamented that more persons had not seen it fit to extend a helping hand to these persons who clearly, are not in a position to help themselves.

The inmates last Friday enjoyed the meal presented to them by the church. The members of the congregation also treated the 14 residents to gift packages. The residents expressed appreciation to the staff and the Emanuel Church group for making their lives a little better for the holiday season.

- Angelo Laurence