Lawyers Help Families in Need, Mother Grateful to Assistance
16 families of the 40 were assisted yesterday.
An emotional mother of five children from Amunu Road in Kinoya, Nasinu was blessed with a donation of groceries from a group of lawyers Yesterday. The lawyers from Lal Patel Bale law firm learned of Olivia Tawake’s plight through the Barter for a Better Fiji Facebook page.
The woman, who is unemployed, has been struggling to provide food for her children since her two sons were laid off work because of the closure of nightclubs and the effect of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.
She resides in a house with 14 other people including one of her sons and had to send her younger children to her sister’s house who now assists with looking after them. Life has been hard for Ms Tawake whose 23-year-old son, Maikeli Naqarase, was recently diagnosed with respiratory illness where water was found in his lungs, adding medical bills to the family’s financial woes.
She found out about the social media page through a friend, who added her to it and highlighted her struggles. “I know times are hard right now but I thank God for the chance to have you come and help me and my family,” Ms Tawake told the lawyers while accepting their donation. “I am so grateful to the admin of the Facebook page for providing a platform for people to also assist families like us.”
Lal Patel Bale law firm lends a helping hand
Given the unfavourable weather condition in Suva yesterday, lawyer Kya Lal said they were only able to assist 16 families and would continue to deliver grocery packs to families in the coming days until they reach their quota of assisting 40 families.
“This was a community outreach programme that close to our hearts. It was staff initiated,” Ms Lal said. “We have been very fortunate in our firm that we have not had to lay people off or cut wages and hours and because of that good fortune we want to pass that back on to the community. We know that a lot of people are struggling at the moment and we are just trying to do our part within the wider community.”
The firm had posted on the barter Facebook page of their intention to assist families in need and according to Ms Lal the response was overwhelming.
Their offices in the Western Division will also be assisting families with grocery packs.
“There were so many people who reached out that needed assistance however we tried to prioritise between people who are out of work, people with disabilities, widows, people with children, those who are sickly single mothers are our priority,” she said.
The grocery packs were paid for by the lawyers themselves from their own pockets. is