By Michael Lashley

Many hands make light work. Since the appeal in The Caribbean Camera of June 18, financial support has started and suggestions for group support have pointed to the way forward in meeting the cost of shipping a large donation of medical supplies a few months ago.

In repeating that appeal headlined Celebrate with Marilyn the Great, I am playing my part by issuing a public invitation for the second event:

“Let me tell you why you are going to join Marilyn this Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 2 p.m. With the valuable support of Christabelle and Tommy Critchlow, Marilyn and her team of volunteers have organized a musically charged food event to raise funds to recover the cost of transporting a major charitable donation of medical supplies sent to Trinidad and Tobago recently.

“The venue is Tommy and Christabelle’s residence, 2009 Brimley Rd., just south of Sheppard Ave. in Scarborough. Tickets may be ordered at 416-845-8194 and 416-321-9578.”

In that regard, I take great pleasure in offering congratulations to the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Ontario (TTAO) for their kind donation of $250 and the challenge they have issued to other groups to follow their example.

The logic of that TTAO donation leads us to a simple but effective formula for reaching the target of $7,500 in this fundraising drive: 250 BBQ tickets at $10 = $2,500; 10 donations of $250 from other organizations = $2,500; 500 donations of $5 from the individual members of those organizations and their friends (each member also gets one friend to donate) = $2,500.

Having put forward that practical example of how we can continue our traditional practice of being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, I must take the opportunity to say a public and sincere thank you to Dr. Vidya Gyan Tota-Maharaj, consul general of Trinidad and Tobago, for her personal presence and moral support.

Those examples of support for the strategic formula outlined above strengthen our confidence. TTAO and Tota-Maharaj have demonstrated the spirit of “gayap”, the coming together of individual volunteers in a traditional village setting. Again, I quote from my earlier appeal to reinforce the worthiness of this noble cause:

“Coming back to the laurels that must be heaped on Marilyn the Great, her travels to T&T to ensure the smooth distribution of the medical equipment have planted a tree that already has more than 13 thriving branches. The Red Cross, the Lady Hochoy Home, the Living Water Community, FEEL and the Princess Elizabeth Home for the Physically Handicapped are among those organizations that have expressed their gratitude for the high quality, brand new medical items that came in the shipment.”

With your support, we know that success in this community venture is guaranteed.