New Grotto Home needs more financial assistance

Residents of the Grotto Home
Residents of the Grotto Home

President of the Board of Directors of the Grotto Home for the Homeless, Ainsworth Irish says more assistance is needed to move residents to its new location in Bellevue Rawle.

Irish had told the media recently that residents would be in their new home by mid-February but due to a lack of finances, the deadline was not met.

“We require another $9,000 plus to really bring everything into a good picture in terms of painting up, giving a face lift to the various little marks and scratches here and there and to ensure that we have fine tune the touches and maybe one or two face basins to really make it a complete sort of home for the people,” Irish explained.

Additionally, Irish said, the home owes creditors some $7,000 and he is now appealing for assistance.

“So if we can get some donations …” he stated. “I can tell you we have worked tirelessly and we have some good citizens who have given us assistance.”

Irish revealed that the new home is near in completion, but did not disclose a date when the residents will be moved to that location.

“I am not going to give you a date … all I can tell you is that we are near in completion, the water line is being connected, there is electricity connected temporarily in the sense that we are still waiting for the three-phase connection,” he stated. “We should be moving to the new location in the not too distant future so the residents at the Grotto Home would be more comfortable and in a happier surrounding.”

Meantime he noted that security is being put in place to ensure safety of the residents at the new location.

“Fencing cost in excess of $55,000 and we are still looking at that,” Irish noted. “I have been speaking to a good friend and the person will see how much they can assist us in that regard. We have security in place when we move to the new site and of course fencing is an additional form of security…”

He said they are also working on proper lighting and a trained security officer for proper safety of residents.

He thanked the government of Dominica, Jays Bookstore, Burton’s Electricals, Green’s Wholesale, Jolly’s Pharmacy among others, who have assisted so far in constructing the new facility.

The Grotto Home for the Homeless currently houses about 44 residents.

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17 Comments

  1. Keepyaman
    March 22, 2015

    No information about where to donate? There should be a gofundme set up for this or other online donation page for those overseas to contribute too.

  2. March 22, 2015

    Sad we are at a stage where we are not doing enough for our elders who pave the way for us. My contribution will be doubled this time. I want to thak all those who are working tirelessly to assist the elderly amongst us, may God continue to bless them and make their efforts fruitful. I am on board and will continue to contribute, cause whats goes around comes around.

  3. DOMINICA MASSIVE
    March 21, 2015

    Mr.Irish one to the best way to raise fund is a radio fund.

  4. Alister Irish
    March 21, 2015

    Keep up the good work daddy

  5. March 21, 2015

    Where are donations to be handed in?

  6. March 21, 2015

    The irony of it all. i heard so much about helping the elderly and less fotunate from the labour party government look now i hearing irish begging for assistance for grotto home.Can you imagine?peronally i was shocked under the circumstances.looking back a few months ago the prime minister boasted about over 30 million dollars for election campaign now irish begging for assistance for grotto home give me a break.

  7. Dominican
    March 21, 2015

    Set up a GoFundMe.com page….. myself as well as other Dominicans I’m sure would be willing to make a financial contribution in order to assist our fellow countrymen.

  8. IF I WUZ
    March 21, 2015

    Parry, in order to assist the Grotto Home, I would advise the Prime Minister to cut the travelling expenses of his Ministers by 50%. I would also advise the Prime Minister to give to the Grotto Home the unspent money from the alleged $30 million spent on the DLP election campaign. He should also suspend the alleged $80,000 yearly salary which is intended to be paid to the discarded politicians.

  9. Trevor Fabien
    March 21, 2015

    Correction: I pledge a donation not to donation :lol:

  10. Trevor Fabien
    March 21, 2015

    This is a cause that we should all support so can we all dip into our pockets and give what we can.

    I pledge to donation of $500.00 EC . I would like others to join me and help make the home a reality in the near future for the less fortunate. Thank you

  11. Views Expressed
    March 21, 2015

    Mr . Irish…….what happen to all this talk from the so called PM on helping all these unfortunate people?
    Where were YOU during the last stolen election when all the millions was flowing in dance, party, celebration, overseas artiste paid big big money and not a cent to the grotto home.??????
    Where were you with you plea. ????Now you running to the public for help when we warned you all of Skerrits flamboyant election ploy. When are you all going to learn that Skerrit and DLP gang, use you all, fool you all that Dominica Nice and now rather running up the steps to the 5th floor of the Financial centre all you running to the same public you failed to listen to who cautioned you all of corruption in high places. You must be joking …right? Please go to Skerrit. Not my money you getting, you all are too blind and maybe stupid. The PARTY IS OVER MY FRIEND, IT ENDED ON THE 8TH December 2014.

  12. anonymous2
    March 20, 2015

    It is time to quit sweating the small stuff and just be grateful for a roof over your head and some security. Everything is a bottomless pit when it comes to money in DA. Don’t we all wish that we could afford the fencing. If something was ever done about all the thieves and robbers maybe the fences could go away. But, it doesn’t look that way. I’m glad there are some people like you Mr. Irish that can buck the odds and stay with it. Too bad there aren’t more like you.

  13. March 20, 2015

    Make the people who own homes and had a job pay, their kids get their pension and their homes get away with murder

  14. ParoInRoseau
    March 20, 2015

    Its really saddening that in this day and age the Grotto Home is still asking for assistance. An institution like Grotto should not be asking for sponsors or for help. Persons and companies who are able to give back should get on board with the Grotto Home and help out. I honestly wish I had cause if I did I would give them.

  15. Me
    March 20, 2015

    Oh no Irish $ 30 million , you mean you did not get from that ? so sadddddddd. Well my advice to you is go ask Destra , Mcclurkin , Carimi , Morgan Heritage , the bajans etc. Charity begins at home .

  16. Zandoli
    March 20, 2015

    To the management of the Grotto Home:

    I think you guys are doing fine work taking care of our elderly. I would very much like to make a contribution to your cause.

    DNO can you provide some information on how we can contribute to that worthy cause?

    Thanks

  17. conga
    March 20, 2015

    I would love to make a contribution… maybe Mr. Irish can provide us with a bank account so person’s interested can make a deposit donation. Thanks.

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