Hi Neighbour! Last Tuesday was a day I'll never forget. It was the day Marva's children got a mattress that they could call their own. At about 11 o'clock that morning, a colleague told me of this Manchester neighbour whose children had been sleeping on bed laths overlaid with pieces of old clothing.

The reason was that a few days before, Marva had to give up the mattress that a relative had loaned her because the two were no longer 'taking tea'. Sad. I was immediately overcome by a strong impulse to help this neighbour acquire another mattress that same day. These young children should not suffer another night of discomfort because two adults can't manage their differences!

Spare mattress

My three telephone calls to acquaintances in Manchester bore no fruit. No one had a spare mattress to assist this neighbour in crisis. But where there is a will, there is a way. Our records showed that Dianne from Portmore, St Catherine, had a mattress to offer to a needy neighbour.

"Yes, the mattress is still available" couldn't be a more favourable response when we enquired of the St Catherine neighbour. The challenge of transporting the mattress to Manchester was short-lived as Mr Graham, who, fortunately, was on vacation, offered to transport it at a reasonable cost. Two neighbours, Sandra and Lloyd, St Andrew, who were brought into the picture, agreed to pay for the trip. What a blessing!

By 4 p.m. that day, the mattress was picked up from Dianne's home in Portmore, during a downpour, and on its way to Manchester. The children were so appreciative of this gift that by 7 p.m. after the mattress settled on their bed, they had given up their usual recreational activities for an early night on a comfortable mattress. That night I did not sleep well - not that I was disturbed.

I was kept awake by the joy of knowing that those children could rest well that night because of the combined kindness of neighbours. I believe that Marva's solution was divinely orchestrated!

Some may now be asking: What about the thousands of children who suffer similar fate as we speak? How will Hello Mi Neighbour help them? But we would ask, what are they willing to do to help? We receive many calls and letters from several families who have been burnt out, washed out or chased out of their homes. Our mandate is to highlight needs and spotlight solutions as we encourage neighbourliness, even beyond our shores. It is a delight to hear neighbours telling us what they would like to do to help a neighbour weekly, but we need to have more neighbours come on-board.

Last week, we challenged our readers to offer extras that they might not need. Thank goodness, the response has been heart-warming. It is good to know that persons are not only reading this column for information, but also for opportunities to help others. A word of encouragement to those who receive: do not take the givers and their gifts for granted - be grateful.

We are asking persons to donate textbooks, exercise books, pencils, geometry sets, sketch pads or khaki uniforms to the Hello Mi Neighbour back-to-school drive. Pick up two of any item and donate one to us.

Give and it will come back to you - one way or another. Love your neighbour as yourself and you will never run out of good neighbours.

Hello Mi Neighbour is written by Silton Townsend, who is better known for his roleas Mass Gussie in the once-aired local comedy, 'Lime Tree Lane'.

Just before jetting off to Berlin, Germany, for the World Championships in Athletics, Wellesley Bolt (centre), father of track star Usain Bolt, hands over a cheque for $330,000 for charity group United Way to Wayne Wray (second right), United Way's vice-chairman. Usain Bolt's manager, Norman Peart (right), Jennifer Bolt (second left), Usain's mom,and Winsome Wilkins, CEO of United Way of Jamaica, view the proceedings. The funds will go towards early childhood and youth development. - Contributed

Opportunities to help neighbours

1. Joy, Kingston, whose family facing financial difficulties. Asking neighbours for a stove with an oven to bake pastry to generate an income.

2. Ms Donaldson, whose children are sleeping on a mattress in deplorable condition. She is also in need of clothing.

3. Ms Brown, Manchester, unemployed mother of three, finding it very difficult to cope financially. Asking neighbours for financial assistance to start a little chicken-rearing business.

4. Neighbour, Manchester, has a growth in one of her nostrils. Cannot find money to have it removed. Asking neighbours for assistance. Cost: $22,000.

5. Hortense, Clarendon, has glaucoma in both eyes and finds it difficult to purchase medication. Asking neighbours for a sewing machine to help generate an income.

6. Kimone, Kingston, lost her daughter and belongings to fire. As she tries to put her life back together, she's appealing to neighbours for usedfurniture.

7. Ms Allen, St Andrew, single mother, fighting to keep her son in high school but seems to be losing the battle. Appealing to neighbours for financial assistance to keep him in school.

8. Ann Marie, Clarendon, single mother of three. Urgently needs help with zinc or building material. House floods whenever it rains. Also needs food items. Children often go to bed without a morsel.

9. Dorrett, Westmoreland, mother of five, with no assistance. Appealing to Jamaicans for help with chickens to rear for sale. This will afford her the opportunity to purchase items for her children's new school year.

To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or send email 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.

Thanks for helping these neighbours last week

1. Novie (St Andrew) for extending herself to assist a neighbour from Clarendon with payment of her electricity bill. Disconnection was stayed.

2. Antoinette, St Andrew, seeking to assist a 96-year-old neighbour, St Catherine, who is in need of clothing.

3. Thanks to Christine, St Andrew, who is offering boys' shoes to persons in need.

4. Mr Cross, Manchester, for offering to assist Michelle (Manchester) with chickens to help generate income.

5. Ms Morgan, also from Manchester, for also offering assistance to Michelle in need of relief.

6. Evadnie, St Andrew, for connecting with Simone who was in need of a suitable bed for her mother who was involved in a car accident.

7. Lorna and Prince, Clarendon, for offering financial assistance to Ms Brown to purchase food.

8. Conrad (United States) for offering financial assistance to Ms Hopkins (St Andrew) and her asthmatic sons.

9. Diane, St Catherine, for donating a mattress to a neighbour in Clarendon who was in dire need one.