IT was Christmas come early for 78-year-old Stanley Burgher on Sunday, November 29, the old man was grinning from ear to ear, as feet immersed in warm, soapy water, he got years of wear removed from his feet with a pedicure.

Even more meaningful to him, was that the service was being offered by a young lady volunteer, who he got a chance to share his years of wisdom with, wisdom which included sharing the importance of youngsters caring for the elderly.

“I love to see young people respect age,” Burgher chuckled. “It’s admirable, it’s wonderful. When they help like this their blessings can’t be too much.”

Burgher was one of 15 seniors treated at the Glencare Senior Citizen’s Home in St Andrew, where youth from the inner-city communities of Ambrook Lane/Cassia Park joined the Half-Way-Tree Community Development Committee (CDC) in a project sponsored by the Citizen Security and Justice Programme of the Ministry of National Security to treat residents of the home and the surrounding communities.

Seven residents from the home and eight seniors taken from the Cassia Park/Ambrook Lane areas benefited.

“We served breakfast, treated them to manicures, pedicures, did their hair and general grooming,” said Michael Lawson, CDC president, explaining that they had also adopted the home. He explained that there were approximately 25 volunteers from Ambrook/Cassia Part participating in the efforts, which also included entertaining the seniors and serving them dinner. “We will continue helping around the home,” he said, outlining plans to paint, clean, clear debris, trim the grass and do minor fixture repairs in the near future.

“The greater importance is to get the youths to respect elders and see them as treasures. It’s important for the youth to experience their values. They can shine a light. The youths today don’t respect their elders, we’re trying to close that gap.”

CSJP Community Action Officer Angella Harris, explained that CSJP, though primarily a crime-prevention initiative, saw the need to be a major sponsor to, among other things, close the gap between the youth and the elderly. “We see the moral decay in terms of the loss of love and respect for seniors,” she said. “A lot of them in the communities are not working, not literate. This is engaging at-risk youth — once you engage them, they will benefit and so will the communities. They (seniors) are older and much more aware and can teach the youth values. It’s a pleasure for the CSJP to endorse the CDC’s move.”

The positive results that can be gleaned from engaging at-risk youth was evident, as some of the volunteers were past and present CSJP beneficiaries who were excited to give back to help develop the community.

Among them were Ruth-Anne Blake, 27, and Joan Christie, 38, who were working in the kitchen to provide meals for the seniors. Blake, a Food Service Production and Management student at UTech, and CSJP beneficiary, said she had volunteered to cook, something she does well. “It means a lot to me to be here,” she said, explaining that the meals being prepared were complete and healthy and catered to the varying health needs of the seniors. “I care a lot about the elderly and love to volunteer.” Christie, who just completed level two of a food preparation course at Operation Friendship, agreed, adding that it’s good to give back.

The volunteers got hearty congratulations from head nurse at the home Curline Polo, who said she was amazed at the dedication of the young people. “There is hope,” she gushed, while explaining how much the visit meant to the seniors, some of whom have relatives abroad and who don’t get many visitors.

It’s also dedication another senior, Pamela Newsome, said she appreciated, as she enjoyed having her nails painted fire engine red by a volunteer, Trudy-Ann Wright, outside under a tree in the cool breeze. Newsome was one of the seniors taken from Cassia Park to enjoy the treats.

“I feel alright, I’m enjoying it,” she said. “It’s very important for the young people to help older people. They say when you help older people you [get] lucky,” she winked.