Enjoying the Christmas Season at the Sister Cecilia Home
Mercy Care Centre, HelpAge Belize, Salvation Army, HOPE Toledo, Belize Red Cross Society are among several organizations that provide care for elderly persons in Belize. This morning in the City, the spirit of Christmas was present at the Sister Cecilia Home where the residents were having a jolly good time with an unusual set of friends. Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The Sister Cecilia Home for Elderly Persons on Wilson Street in the Old Capital provides healthy eating and nutrition, exercise and care for ageing persons for decades now. Since December ninth, its thirty-eight residents have been taking part in a Twelve-day of Christmas Program.
Bernard Adolphus
Bernard Adolphus, Chairperson, Board of Sister Cecilia Home
“The ladies, the supervisors have planned a twelve days of activities and they asked me to be here with them. As a result it is important that we do this so that at least our seniors are not forgotten, and at least show our public what others can do, particularly the uniform service is doing for them. Yes, they are here but they are not forgotten. So we get them involved in this Christmas cheer which is an important aspect of this activity for us.”
Duane Moody
“We know that it is twelve days. Talk to us about what all that will entail.”
Bernard Adolphus
“Well the churches will come in; we got some from Wesley coming here. I understand that other members of the police section are coming here. An invitation had been sent out to other uniform service, but we haven’t gotten anything yet. But we got other people coming in and will do something. I have some time when I am coming in to show some Christmas movies and other individuals. We have steel band coming here throughout the whole period; whole activities to keep them going.”
The initiative will continue up to December nineteenth and will see various businesses and uniformed agencies make visits to the home to socialize and undertake activities with the elderly. Today, the Gang Suppression Unit, an arm of the Belize Police Department, came with gifts and snacks in hand for the residents at Sister Cecilia.
Stacy Smith
WPC Stacy Smith, GSU
“Today we brought some items—items that they need and use on a day to day basis as well as some grapes and apples. But I think that the most important thing that we brought is interaction noh and they have been receiving it very well. And I think that we are the ones who are benefitting because the joy that comes from it is unmatched.”
Earlier this year, the GSU participated in a community service initiative and the Sister Cecilia Home was one of the beneficiaries. For the officers, it helps to change the negative public perception about the GSU.
Sam Bonilla
Corporal Sam Bonilla, GSU
“If you can recall, last year, we had the Christmas party for the underprivileged kids. Most of the media was there likewise and today we are here and we are trying to show that the GSU, yes…we are not all about going around and roughing up people—cause we are not about that. It is about the love that we have for people likewise and we are giving back. And this is part of our giving back.”
WPC Stacy Smith
“It also underscores the versatility of the unit. We are able to perform in one capacity and we are also able to perform in other capacities. So the unit is a very versatile one. We have a mandate; we do that mandate, but whatever we do apart from that doesn’t takes away from it.”
For Chairman Bernard Adolphus, it is an opportunity to bring awareness to the public of what the Home does on a daily basis.
Bernard Adolphus
“Collectively, we are all part of it. I want the community to understand what is happening. My role, I will try and get the community as involved as much as possible in the activities of Sister Cecilia because anybody, anybody can come to the doors of Sister Cecilia—nothing to be ashamed of.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
