Lindeners benefit from ‘Caring for Others’ charity exercise

In keeping with its motto, ‘Giving a voice to the faces of poverty’, charitable organisation Caring for Others Inc. wrapped up its final food, shoes and clothing donation exercise in the Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) area on Saturday.
The exercise was the last of a series of distribution exercises conducted by the organisation. First Lady Sandra Granger and Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally joined the Founder and President of the organization, Eslene Shockley, and her volunteers in conducting the distribution exercise to a number of Lindeners. The elderly and differently abled persons were also recipients.
Speaking during the exercise, Shockley extended greetings on behalf of the board of directors of the organization, while expressing gratitude to the First Lady and other dignitaries for attending the event.
She stressed that Caring for Others is a human services organisation, and explained that she felt compelled to extend the exercise to the community after she was prompted by Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira.
“…To whom much is given, much is required…we are not gonna turn our backs on the poor. I’m gonna be here until God calls me home”, she stated, while promising to return next year.
The First Lady, in her remarks, recalled Shockley expressing interest in the initiative when they met about 2 years ago in Atlanta, USA. She noted that she has also reached out to teenage mothers in Guyana, and expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Guyana, thanking Shockley for her “love and dedication”.
“Linden, you are blessed today to have Eslene Shockley and Caring for Others in your midst,” she said.
Minister Alley also expressed gratitude for the Shockley initiative, as she, too, recalled meeting Shockley 2 years ago. She noted that Shockley has since greatly assisted the country, and explained that the woman is also behind the annual toy donation drive conducted by President David Granger in the Region each year.
“We can do more for you with people like Eslene Shockley and the others”, the minister noted.
She explained that Eugene Gilbert was the person who had first spoken to her about Shockley and her initiative, and she extended her gratitude to him.
“I want to thank Eugene Gilbert, because this has really been a success. It has brought fruition not only for the people of Linden, because Eugene was thinking Guyana when he spoke with me”, she noted.
Also present at the event were Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, Assistant National Coordinator of Community Development Councils, Sandra Adams; and Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Horace James.