Think it's time to once again remind readers of this column's objective. Through this weekly column, we seek to inspire Jamaicans to become more helpful to one another and to be more willing to see challenges as opportunities for success rather than recipes for failure. We highlight problems and spotlight solutions and are guided by the philosophy that everyone can help someone, no matter how small. We, therefore, do not subscribe to the notion of the "haves and the have nots" because we truly believe that everyone possesses something of value which, if shared, can help to enrich a neighbour's life.

Hello Mi Neighbour connects people with people at home and abroad - enabling them to provide solutions for one another in a timely and neighbourly manner. We are convinced that these activities will help to build a better Jamaica.

I now turn the spotlight on that school girl wearing yellow and white uniform escorting an elderly neighbour with impaired vision, across the very busy Half-Way Tree Road about 2:30 p.m. last Friday. A pleasant sight it was, indeed, at a time when the young don't seem to care two hoots about the elderly - especially a stranger. Good to know that those of us who are moving on in age can have the shoulders of our children and grandchildren to lean on.

'While there are some with heart so cold, there are many with hearts of gold.'

It is heartening to know that as we highlight some of our neighbours' challenges week after week, their plea for help is not falling on deaf ears. Numerous individuals and companies have been stepping up to the plate to help relieve the anguish of those languishing in pain and sorrow. I must pay tribute to the more than 140 Scotiabank volunteers who trekked all the way to Comfort Castle, Portland, last month, to help meet the needs of a family of eight living under shameful conditions. Head of the household, Miss Joyce has not been able to do much for her family since that tragic motor-vehicle accident in 2008, which also left her son (breadwinner) dead and her husband mentally unstable. The tattered one-room shack in which they all lived had neither kitchen nor bathroom facilities and leaked like a sieve whenever it rained.

Today, standing firmly is a brand new two-bedroom house with a bathroom and kitchenette where the little shack stood. Thanks to the Scotiabankers from the Corporate and Commercial Banking Centre (CCBC) in Kingston, along with staff members from the Portland branch who spearheaded this emdodiment of neighbourliness. Wayne Hewitt, who led the team of volunteers from Kingston, said they were just helping to fulfill the dreams of Miss Joyce's son who died in the accident.

Manager of corporate social responsibility at the bank, Debbie Clue, explains the rationale behind the bank's decision to assist the family in the deep rural community of Portland: "Scotiabank's relationship with the Comfort Castle community started with the primary and junior high school where we made a donation of a risograph earlier this year. This situation of extreme poverty was pointed out to us and we felt deeply saddened by the circumstance and sprung into action." YES.

As we say thanks to Food For the Poor, which supplied the technical crew for the construction project, completed on Labour Day, we are calling on other neighbours to assist the family with food, clothing and household items. There is still a challenge with breakfast and lunch money for school.

According to a member of the Scotiabank staff, they have also reached out to a rural community in Montego Bay, where a family of eight has also benefitted from the construction of a new house. Thanks to the Montego Bay staff. The mother of seven was overcome with emotion as she expressed the joy of knowing that her children were no longer exposed to the cold air that "would come into the house through the gaps in the wooden shack." Similar to Portland, this house was constructed with the assistance of the Food for the Poor technical team.

Champion Neighbour

On behalf of the neighbours, we say a big 'thank you' to our corporate neighbour, Scotiabank, for such acts of neighbourliness. We hereby certify them Champion Neighbour of the Month.

Thanks to these neighbours who have dipped into their coffers to help their neighbours over the past week:

1. Our commercial neighbour, Lee's Food Fair, Red Hills Road, for their generous contribution to our Child Month project

2. Our commercial neighbour, JAMGUY Food Processors, Red Hills Road, for their kind contribution to the same project

3. Our commercial neighbour, HiLo Food Stores, Cross Roads, for packages that helped with our initiative last month

4. Our commercial neighbour, Sunshine Food Processors, Spanish Town Road, for their generous contributions to our effort during the month of May

5. Bryan Lue, St Andrew, for his donation of a bag of rice to help with our recent food distribution programme

6. Marsha, for assisting the family of 10 from Clarendon whose house was destroyed

7. Eloise, St Andrew, for her financial contribution

8. Kerry Ann, for assisting a mother who is seven months pregnant and in need of clothing, etc.

9. Jennifer, St Mary, for donating a sewing machine to Iona, St Andrew, and television set to Marcia and her children, St Mary

10. Mrs Dacosta, St Andrew, for financial contribution towards the nutritional needs of children who were specially targeted recently

11. Phillippa, St Andrew: for offering used lumber to a needy neighbour.

May these persons who have given and all those who practice acts of neighbourliness within their communities experience abundant blessings in their lives.

Love your neighbour as yourself and you will never run out of good neighbours.

Have a good neighbour day.

- Gussie

President of Scotiabank Bruce Bowen (second left) and Dr Doris Channer-Watson, president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Providence in Montego Bay, St James, help with building a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, kitchenette and living area for mother of six Terry-Ann Guyah, who has lived in a one-bedoom shack for years in Hurlock, St James. - FILE

Opportunities to help neighbours

1. Young neighbour: abused mother of seven desperately needs a stove and a bed.

2. Third form student: needs financial assistance to attend school. Parents cannot afford to assist.

3. Patricia, got burnt out: Trying to pick herself up but she needs a sewing machine to help generate an income.

4. Erdine, St Elizabeth: husband died. Received a house from Food For the Poor and is asking neighbours for second-hand furniture.

5. Francine, St Andrew: mother of three in need of a second-hand deep freeze as she is planning to rear chickens to help sustain her family. Willing to pay affordable amount for freezer.

6. Unemployed single mother, St Andrew, with a sick child needs to do ultrasound for $3,800, but has no money. Sometimes there is no dinner for the family. Asking for neighbours assistance.

To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or send e-mail to: neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link up. Those who desire to make financial donations to this project may make deposits to Acct # 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank. Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX