By Anthony Henry

The Rollington Town Community Development Committee (CDC) delivered mobility aids and other essential support to seniors across East Kingston last week making good on a previous promise.

The initiative, led by CDC Director Stephannie Stennett, who also heads the Mother and Child Organisation, has made her a familiar figure in the community for her dedication to mothers, children, and the elderly. Stennett described the work as deeply personal. “This is not just community work for me it’s about giving back to the people who built this community. Their care and sacrifices deserve respect, support, and dignity,” she said.

The CDC had promised walking aids and wheelchairs to elderly residents, with fittings for the chairs taking place in September. The first six chairs were delivered in December, and three more were handed out this week, with additional walking aids scheduled for delivery at a later date.

“A wheelchair may seem like a simple piece of equipment, but for these seniors, it’s freedom, freedom to move safely, independently, and with dignity,” Stennett said.

The outreach extended beyond mobility support. Fifteen senior households received care packages containing food and basic supplies, continuing a tradition that began with the CDC’s Christmas deliveries last year. In Burger Gully, volunteers returned to the home of a blind senior who has lived at the same address for more than 30 years. Heavy rains had left his home damaged and cluttered, but CDC members and local residents worked together to clean the premises, remove old items, paint walls, and repair sections of the roof. “Seeing his smile when we finished the repairs that is what makes this work so worthwhile,” Stennett noted.

The CDC director is also seeking partnerships to expand support to the most vulnerable in East Kingston. “There are many families here struggling to put food on the table and get basic toiletries. With partners, we can reach more people and make a real difference,” she said.

For Stennett, the work goes beyond charity. “We focus on practical help mobility, food, clean and safe homes because that’s what truly improves daily life for our seniors,” she added.

Through these efforts, the Rollington Town CDC is showing that community spirit, compassion, and follow-through can transform lives one wheelchair, one care package, and one act of kindness at a time.