As the economic situation in the country gets tougher and tougher, organisations like the school and church have been forced to operate more as welfare entities.

Teachers are increasingly coming under pressure to provide money for lunch, taxi fare and even paying for CSEC subjects for the students in our education institutions.

The irony of the situation is that while in the past, teachers could manage to give a little here and a little there, today, it is almost impossible because they too have been coming under severe financial pressure.

One has to be close to this scenario to understand the magnitude of the problem. The Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education has been providing some assistance, but this is limited as lunches are provided for only three days per week. Also, many of these students go to bed hungry. Seeing the need, the management of a few schools have from time to time been moved to provide these students with a few pounds of flour, tinned meat and a stick of butter to take home for their evening meals.

Everyone is aware of the connection between learning and nutrition, so there is no need to belabour the point here. What we need are some real, sustainable solutions to better the lives of these children. The teachers, as conscientious human beings, are playing their part and will continue to do the best that they can.

However, where such actions are dependent on the benevolent nature of the teachers, the church has no such luxury. It is the church's mandate to give assistance in this manner. The Holy Scriptures speak to the fact of Jesus saying that feeding and clothing the needy is akin to giving food and clothing to Him (Jesus).

a welfare arm

Everyone has to up the ante in seeing to the needs and welfare of others, of which the church is chief. If it does not have a welfare arm, or are providing meals through the operation of a soup kitchen, now is the time to do so.

If the church cannot or will not carry out its mandate of helping the poor, perhaps, it is time for them to close shop or to "pack their bags and go."

Recently, I heard of a case where someone hungry to the point of feeling that their 'tripe a knot' approached a church pastor to get some assistance and was refused. How can this be?

If he really could not help, he should have pointed her in the direction of someone who could give some assistance.

In my opinion, the office of a pastor or minister should be seen as a public one. And again, based on the mandate, this person should be on call 24 hours per day. This individual, as far as I am concerned, has no private telephone number.

It is understandable that under such stringent financial conditions, people will tend to be selfish and self-protective of their depleting meagre resources.

However, people should not stop being benevolent to their less-fortunate brothers and sisters. This is not an easy proposition, but we have to dig deep within the recesses of our minds and souls and see what little we can afford.

As a society, we need to strive to live closer to the tenet of being our brothers and sisters' keepers.

Questions, comments, observations? You can email me at elgin1225@yahoo.co.uk.