Sharing Xmas joy

PANAMA. It is almost 50 years asince Catherine Brown first opened up her home to give care to senior citizens in need.

When she died, Catherine Brown left her small wooden home to the British Aid Society, a group which had helped her with her endeavors during the last years of her life.

Catherine had opened her home to the elderly and destitute, offering care, food and shelter with very little help from the outside. The British Aid Society decided to fulfill Catherine’s wishes and continue her mission,

Over the years the home has been rebuilt and today it is a solid concrete structure, housing ten residents and offering them total care in a family environment.

Each resident has a private room room where they can keep personal items. Meals are taken in the large communal area, where visitors are received and where entertainment likr. “Music and Movement” is provided and where religious services, birthday and communal celebrations are held.

Residents are taken to the local health center or to the general hospital for their medical appointments and all necessary medication is provided. A doctor is available to the home for emergencies. The British Aid Society depends on the support and generosity of its many friends to keep the home going. Next Sunday at noon, these friends will be the American Society of Panama and the Canadian Association, who are co-funding a Christmas dinner to be served to the senior residents.

< Volunteers from the Balboa Union Church and the British Aid Society will also be present.

In addition to a Christmas meal and the distribution of presents, residents and volunteers will spend part of the afternoon singing English and Spanish hymns/carols, and telling stories of an ‘other’ Panama and of a time, not found in many tourist guides.