A SENIOR who went without pay for three months while she was looking after 14 mentally challenged Hope Homes residents has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community in supporting her.

The plight of 77-year-old Oriel Dolmo was revealed by this newspaper in May this year. She said she had continued to work in difficult conditions at Lefroy House in Dockyard for 13 weeks without pay, "because the residents needed her".

The loss of pay caused her to struggle financially, particularly as her husband Francisco was ill at the time, but the community has helped to ease her predicament.

Mrs. Dolmo's employment with Hope Homes ended on May 6 when the residents were moved to alternative accommodation.

The management of the cash-strapped charity said it was unable to pay her more than $8,000 in wages owed. The same applied to Mrs. Dolmo's former colleague at Lefroy House, 58-year-old Patrona Scott, who was owed around $6,000.

At the time, Hope Homes executive director Ellen Douglas said the main reason for the lack of money was the pulling of a $160,000 Government grant.

Health & Family Services Minister Patrice Minors said her department could not pay the money, as it was Hope Homes' responsibility. And she added that the grant had been pulled because the charity had failed to provide the required documentation detailing how the money was being spent.

Both Mrs. Dolmo and Mrs. Scott struggled financially as a result of the loss of pay.

One Mid-Ocean News reader was so moved by Mrs. Dolmo's plight that she donated $300 to her and described her as "an angel".

Others have followed suit since then.

"It's been really surprising, the generosity and support of people," Mrs. Dolmo said.

"Many different people have offered to help me.

"My church family, at Mount Zion AME in Southampton, and my pastor, the Rev. Wilbur Lowe, have been especially good to me.

"They helped me all the way through this, they have given me encouragement and they have helped me keep my head up."

Mrs. Dolmo also now receives help from Financial Assistance and no longer works.

"There is no need for me to go out to work any more and I'm quite happy now," she said.

"I want to thank everyone who has helped me."