A large crowd gathers outside the Minstry of Social Services' Department of Rehabilitative/Welface Services building on Thompson Blvd yesterday in hopes of obtaining a welfare voucher. The vouchers are aimed to assist those in need of food, water and household items due to the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. (Photo: Ahvia J. Campbell)

Marjorie Pinder, 62, of Third Street, Coconut Grove, found herself yesterday at the Department of Rehabilitative/Welfare Services in Oakes Field seeking assistance after she was devastated by Hurricane Matthew two weeks ago.

"I have nothing," Pinder said

"I'm here because they are giving out food vouchers and they are taking down if you lost anything."

Pinder sat in a chair by the wall waiting to be called because she said her legs are bad and she can't stand up for long.

She began to cry as she retold of the trauma she has been through.

"After the storm, I went home to see what happened but I couldn't even get inside," Pinder said as tears streamed down her face.

"A Poinciana tree fell on my house and three of my friends came and cut the tree so I could get into my front door.

"The tree fell in the bathroom and the kitchen part.

"Everything in my room is completely gone, you can see outside.

"Every day from where I am staying with a friend, every morning, I go home until about three, four o'clock in the afternoon and I go back because I don't have a bathroom."

Pinder said she only has four pieces of clothing and is living out of her bag.

She said she rushed down to the Department of Rehabilitative/Welfare Services because she needs help.

"I haven't seen [anyone]," she said.

"Everybody say they coming but I haven't seen anyone.

"I just give up on government and everyone. I am sick and tired."

When asked what's the next step for her, Pinder said the only thing she could think to do is to "go under the bridge and live" because she doesn't know.

Cherely Kelly, the assistant director responsible for the Community Support Services Division at the Department of Rehabilitation/Welfare Services, said the Oakes Field location is a help desk, where residents who are unknown to Social Services can get food vouchers.

"The desk was established shortly after Hurricane Matthew, to basically assist persons who are new to our department with any need they may have and to compile necessary information for NEMA," Kelly said.

"The Department of Social Services is assisting persons who may be in need of food assistance.

"A lot of persons were without electricity for very long periods of time and some of those persons are right here trying to see how they can replenish their food supplies."

The vouchers are redeemable at Super Value, Solomon's Supercenter, Cost Right, Centreville Food Market, Milo Butler & Sons Ltd. and Balfour Consumer Fresh Meat Mart.

Kelly said at the same time they are recording any damage or devastation that the person may have experienced due to the hurricane and forwarding that information to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

She said since the help desk has been opened, it has assisted more than 200 people every day, with Tuesday's list extending beyond 330 people.

Clement Butler, a resident of Cameron Street, said the people in his area are also in need of urgent help.

Around noon yesterday, Butler told The Nassau Guardian that he was there from 6 a.m. and had yet to be served.

He was number 130 in line.

"We really need help," he said.

"We have gone to the Urban Renewal and we haven't seen anyone.

"Everyone [is] outside because they don't have current and we really, really need help, that's why we came here today to see if we could get some kind of help.

"I can't take it no more.

"My old lady (mother) is 79. She in the house with a big pacemaker in her and she really need it.

"Fifteen days without electricity. It's very frustrating.

"I drinking hot water for days.

"We sick and tired. We need help. We need light through that corner so everyone could live. We aren't asking for much."

Naomi Leadon, 55, of Fritz Lane, East Street said she did manage to receive her food voucher.

Leadon said she was on the line since 7 a.m.

"I was able to get the voucher, thank God, because everything out the house. The house empty," she said.

"The light is off longer than expected, so I couldn't buy grocery, everything finish in the house.

"So now I could go to Super Value and get some stuff to put in the house, so they (her children) could eat me out of house again until school open."

She said Hurricane Matthew has caused severe damage to her roof, but she is thankful for life.

"The roof still leaking but I thank God I have a house, cause some people don't have a home," Leadon said.

"Two rooms leaking, so I put a bucket under it and go in another room what isn't leaking."

She said although the power is still off at her house, she tries to entertain herself and her grandchildren with stories.

"Light has been off from hurricane time," Leadon said.

"But you know what? This brings back the old time.

"My grammy used to sit us down when we didn't have any light and tell us stories, so I start telling my grandchildren about it so now they are aware of Bookie, Bre'r Rabi, Shine and Anansi."

Leadon, who lives in the Centreville constituency, said she has yet to see her member of Parliament - Prime Minister Perry Christie.

"We live in our prime minister area and we still don't have light," she said.

"We haven't even seen anyone.

"My prime minister, who is the representative of my area, hasn't even sent a representative.

"I don't expect him to come, because I know he have other plans, but he could have a representative to come and check the people to see what they need.

"Not a soul came, and if they did come they [must have] come 1 'o clock (p.m.) when everybody to work, so we don't see nobody.

"We are tired. You don't have to give a person something; just listen to what they have to say."

Christie admitted yesterday during a communication in The House of Assembly that he had yet to visit his constituency because he was visiting other areas throughout the country.

Sloan Smith, Guardian Staff Reporter

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian