New York Mandir donates to Cheshire Home

Jul 29, 2016 News

– Promises to maintain relationship

“Vighneshwar,” a New York-based Mandir, has once again made a significant contribution

Pandit Persaud, Assistant Administrator Patricia Bailey (standing, centre) and a staffer (standing at left) along with some of the residents.

to a local charitable organization and has promised to maintain a long term relationship with the facility, which caters for persons with disabilities.
On Wednesday, President of the Mandir, Pandit Mochan Persaud handed over a cheque to the Assistant Administrator of the Cheshire Home, Patricia Bailey, who stressed the impact the contribution will make on the lives of the residents there.
The home, located at Unity, East Coast Demerara, caters for 26 residents with disabilities and it is being operated by a management committee, along with the Government of Guyana.
According to Bailey, the government pays the staffers, assists with food supplies and the maintenance of the building. The Home also receives donations which play a major role in “filling the gap” and pay the bills.
The residents range in age from 14 to 54 and “live there until their final days”. When a resident dies, staffers at the home organized a funeral service which is attended by other residents, friends of the deceased and families.
The Ministry of Social Protection pays a small part of the expenses and the Home settles the balance. Pandit Persaud has now promised to assist the home whenever a resident passes on.

The cheque being handed over.

When asked how a person qualifies to be a resident, Bailey explained that some persons are referred to the Home by other homes, and also the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. She said that if persons wish to take their relative there, then they will have to apply.
The application along with a doctor’s letter with the patient’s diagnosis will be forwarded to the management committee. If the home already has 26 persons, then management will respond, stating that there is no vacancy at the moment, and that the application will be placed on file.
“They take persons with disabilities, not mental illness, because it’s not an institution for the mentally ill,” Bailey noted.
She explained that there are 15 nurses monitoring the residents around the clock. Two of the residents attend a special needs school in Georgetown, while the others remain at the Cheshire Home, where they are involved in different activities.
Works are currently ongoing at the Home, which was founded in 1972 to soon cater for semi-independent residents.
The “Vighneshwar” Mandir was founded 14 years ago and has since assisted charitable organizations in Guyana annually.
Pandit Persaud explained that he and members of the temple would annually pool money in order to assist the needy.
Last year, they sponsored a wedding for Debra Ann Samay, who spent almost eleven years in different orphanages in Guyana.
The pandit met her when he visited the Kamal orphanage in Albion to make a donation. Since then they maintained a relationship and he even became her father and gave her away to her Prince Charming, Alexander Moore.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News