Hi neighbour! Here's an inspirational thought: Tough times don't last; tough people do. We cannot learn to weather the storms of life unless we go through them. Life is a hands-on experience from beginning to end.

Sometimes when I see my neighbours in the local and foreign news demonstrating for reasonable causes, I wonder about what could be achieved if all these emotions were harnessed and channelled into developmental activities.

I share with you an interesting story which a neighbour shared with me recently you. Have you heard about the group of women in the eastern section of the island who all lost their jobs and decided that they would not allow tough times to get them down? These neighbours (30 of them of them, I understand) knew that if they allowed joblessness to sap their energy they could have a very dim future. They decided to till the soil as an income generator.

It takes a village ...

Abiding by the principle, 'one hand washes the other', I am told that all 30 of them work on each other's farm. For example, on Day One, Woman 1 will have her 29 neighbours working for her. On Day Two, Woman 2 will have all 29 working with her. This continues until all 30 plots of land are covered.

To add spice to the arrangement, each time they meet on someone's property there is a big country-style cook-out. Wow! Can we replicate this attitude across the island?

How about many of our neighbours who are always hanging out with little or no sense of direction? Usually they have very little to eat. Why not knock heads together and see what combined wisdom can produce for the good of mankind. Everyone has some gift or talent that can help to solve the problem of poverty, hunger, war, violence, crime, immorality, child abuse.

Let's apply Jesus' remedy: Love thy neighbour as thyself. Join the movement.

Thanks to these neighbours

1. Sherene, St Andrew, for donating a television to a neighbour in need.

2. Ms Foster, St Catherine, who is giving a bed and clothing to a needy neighbour.

3. Dalvern, St Mary, who is connecting with Tanya (also from St Mary), who was burnt out.

4. Shereen, St Catherine, for connecting with Joy, who was in need of a television for her boys. Thank you.

5. Paulette, St Andrew, for offering a portable sewing machine and boys' clothing to a neighbour in need.

6. Ms Pinto, St Andrew, who is offering clothing and other household items to needy neighbours.

7. Mr Young, for offering to assist a third-form student who needs financial assistance to go to school.

8. Mrs Henriques, St Andrew, who is connecting with a mother of seven who needed a bed.

9. Ms Kitson, St Andrew, for donating clothing to a needy neighbour.

10. Ms Scott, for donating a brand-new wheelchair to Ms Campbell and a second-hand crib to a neighbour.

Silton Townsend, the author of this column, is better known for his role as 'Maas Gussie' in the 1990s Jamaican sitcom 'Lime Tree Lane'.

Dr Olive Lewin signs a sponsorship cheque for the Jamaica Scouts Association. Looking on are Mike Fennell (centre) and Lewin's grandson, Jason Black. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP NEIGHBOURS

To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or send email to neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link. 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

1. Maureen, Trelawny: Caring for five-year-old twin boys who were abandoned by their parents; also has a 15-year-old girl. Her house was destroyed by fire recently. Needs clothing and other necessities.

2. Natalie, Manchester: Has a hole in her heart and needs to do an 'echo sound' (echocardiogram). She also has an infant and is experiencing breathing difficulties. Asking neighbours to assist with cost of the echo sound, which is $11,000.

3. Joyce, Portland: Survivor of the Portland accident; lost her son - who was the chief breadwinner. Needs a bed and other furniture, as she tries to move on with her life.

4. Samantha, Manchester: Expectant mother who is seven months pregnant and not receiving any assistance from the child's father or other family members. Asking for help with baby clothes, diapers, blankets, etc.

5. Michelle, St Catherine: Now wants to recommit her life to Jesus Christ, needs assistance with size-14 church clothing and size-10 shoes. Asking neighbours to assist.

6. Charmaine, St Thomas: She's a blind woman asking for help to sell food items from her home to help generate an income.

7. Marvin, St Andrew: Single father needs a second-hand motorbike to peddle fish.

8. Annette, St Andrew: Asking for a stroller to help transport her son who cannot walk.

9. Ms Burke, St Mary: Single mother has come upon challenging times. Her four-year-old son is not yet talking and she needs assistance to send him to a special school. She also needs diapers and food items for him.

10. Tyrone Duncan, USA: Needs to make contact with relatives in Jamaica, father Raymond Duncan and sister Hannah Duncan.