Sometimes, The Royal Gazette prints articles which provoke a strong response from members of the community.

Some stories or pictures draw criticism for the subjects described or portrayed for reasons of taste or judgment.

Others draw praise for a job well done in keeping the community informed.

But the series of articles this week on struggling mothers has prompted an unprecedented response from people in the community who just want to help.

The first article in the series appeared on Monday and within hours, three women had contacted the paper in a bid to find out what size clothing "Tina'' wore and how they could get items to her.

Tuesday's story prompted a gentleman to call up and offer to donate "Simone'' a bus pass for her children for the rest of the school year.

If she didn't need that, he added, he was willing to give her school clothes or groceries -- whatever she might need to help her children.

Another call was received yesterday from a woman who said she was willing to sponsor "Simone's'' pursuit of a GED.

Wednesday's story generated two more phone calls from women who wanted to know what they could do to help.

One of them was a single mother herself. While she could do nothing drastic, she added, maybe she could pass on a few grocery vouchers to Alice? The other woman said she and her work colleagues had read the story and wanted to know if there was anyway they could help Alice.

It all goes to show that community spirit, often branded as being extinct, is not dead.

No real names were used for any of the subjects.

Editorial: Page 4 Good Samaritans Race, religious backgrounds and other such details were omitted so there was no way for a reader to draw a connection with the subjects on that level.

Instead people simply heard of a person's plight and wanted to know what they could do to help.

There were also critical and sceptical responses.

One caller branded a story as full of lies but declined to give her name.

Another sceptic said these women had to have money somewhere and were pulling the wool over peoples' eyes.

If so, The Royal Gazette asked, why do they choose to live as they do and deprive themselves and their families sometimes of the most basic of necessities? And an anonymous letter writer from a well-to-do Pembroke address wrote in promptly after the first article appeared on Monday to ask the paper to "please spare us from any more such articles or at least feature some mothers were unless they knew them already.

Race, religious backgrounds and other such details were omitted so there was no way for a reader to draw a connection with the subjects on that level.

Instead people simply heard of a person's plight and wanted to know what they could do to help.

There were also critical and sceptical responses.

One caller branded a story as full of lies but declined to give her name.

Another sceptic said these women had to have money somewhere and were pulling the wool over peoples' eyes.

If so, The Royal Gazette asked, why do they choose to live as they do and deprive themselves and their families sometimes of the most basic of necessities? And an anonymous letter writer from a well-to-do Pembroke address wrote in promptly after the first article appeared on Monday to ask the paper to "please spare us from any more such articles or at least feature some mothers