THE Willing Workers of Bermuda is hoping that one of the island's good Samaritans will step forward and help it establish a meeting place of its own.

Until then, the group - which works to improve the quality of life for members in the community - is holding a series of events which it hopes will eventually get its project off the ground, and renting facilities as the need arises.

"The Willing Workers of Bermuda is an organisation with members whose genuine love and concern for our fellow human beings has led us to assist our citizens in need by donating our time, means and effort to improve their quality of life," explained the group's vice-president, Samuel Lynch.

"These services we have quietly rendered for over 20 years. Our aim is to have people in the community - groups and individuals - and we're putting on various programmes for the people and residents of Bermuda.

"Our experiences in these areas, apart from giving us personal satisfaction, have, over the years, resulted in improved citizenship for many. This indicates that with the opportunity to stabilise our operations under one roof, we can extend and improve our accountability and our services, as well as increase our membership to include those who are interested, willing, and qualified, to join us.

"We're now looking for a building. At present, not only do we have to rent facilities but also (things which aid our presentations) like personal announcement (PA) systems and screens. We're basically doing what we can at the moment until some good Samaritan comes along and sees our need and helps us find a building somewhere."

According to Mr. Lynch, the group spends much of its time catering to prisoners and others in need, and has done so for more than 20 years.

"The Willing Workers plan to implement various programmes for the incarcerated, the citizens and residents of Bermuda. For over 20 years we've been working in prisons. And we still continue visiting prisons and helping inmates with follow-up visits once they've been released.

"But we help others as well - everybody in the community where we see a need because everybody in the community suffers from stress."

With that aim, he added, the group will be holding a series of events which are open to the public, some of which serve as fund-raisers for its planned building.

"The schedule and evaluation of each topic will be the responsibility of a committee of five to seven members of our organisation," Mr. Lynch explained. "Some of them are knowledgeable of some topics, while others are capable of recruiting approporiate presenters.

"We certainly do not claim all the answers to the problems we have identified; however, based on our humble successes, rather than complaining about the problems, we have chosen to be part of the solutions. We shall endeavour to consult and work with professionals who are similarly interested in making life more meaningful and our environment more liveable for our less fortunate citizens."

The workshops, he added, will be held on February 21 and 22, culminating with a health screening and gospel concert on February 23.

On the Friday and Saturday - through discussions on the topic "Are You Stressed?" - residents are invited to learn how to manage anxiety, depression, fear, tension and other symptoms and the effect certain situations might have on their health.

The two lectures will be held at City Hall. The Friday event will take place between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and Saturday's between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

On Sunday, February 23, the group is to conduct a free health screening between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at City Hall and, in the same venue that night, hold a gospel concert featuring many of the island's popular artists.

Tickets for the concert, which begins at 6 p.m., are available at the People's Pharmacy on Victoria Street and the Christian Bookstore on Burnaby Street, at $20. Proceeds are in aid of the Ministy's building fund. For more information on any of the events, telephone 237-7015.