MAY PEN, Clarendon:

Members of the Jamalco Clarification Department recently donned their workman's gear, for the 'umpteenth' time. This time, it was to complete a one-room house for Aman Clarke, an 84-year-old resident of York Town.

The elderly bicycle mechanic, welder and blacksmith was living in the ruins of his home ravaged by Tropical Storm Gustav last year and desperately needed help.

The community outreach project, which started on February 21, was complete when persons from the 50-member team painted the wooden house. Female volunteers put curtains in the windows and swept the linoleum floor.

It was Donavan Rhoden, a member of the Jamalco team, who got wind of Clarke's plight from Alethia Garcia, a mutual friend, who runs a bar on the land where the derelict building was located.

Personal donations

Alicia Marshalleck, project coordinator in the Clarification team; Maurice Robinson, department superintendent; Noel Arscott, Southwest Clarendon member of parliament; F.C. Reynolds, contractor; Charles Learmond, former MP; and Prudential Cabinet Makers gave personal donations. Food For the Poor also assisted.

Clarke, who was present from start to finish, kept saying the outpouring of kindness meant he was a blessed man.

Although he claimed he could have slept at a friend's home, the 84-year-old remained in his damaged house.

It was, as he put it, a "proud and happy" gentleman who accepted the key to his new home from Marshalleck.

Clarke was also surprised to see the small bed, table and chest of drawers inside.

"This is all new to me," he said.

The diminutive bicycle mechanic said that, while he had children, many of them were abroad and he was only able to get one daughter to assist him. The assistance, he said, ceased when she fell on hard times. He said, even so, he had wonderful friends and thanked the Clarification team for personally funding the project and building the house. He also asked God to continually bless all the contributors.

- Angella Chin