St Bess man continues late grandma’s culture of giving
Nicholas Clarke, 27, says his passion for charity dates back to his younger days of witnessing his grandmother, Louise Clarke, going above and beyond for her neighbours.
This sacred part of his childhood never parted ways with him and as such, he also found himself impacting lives in his community of New Building district, St Elizabeth.
"I love charity. I grew up with my grandmother and all I saw was that she gave away a lot. She gave love, food, and money just about anything she had to the community," Clarke told THE WEEKEND STAR. "After she passed, people would still talk about her great work. She was like a legend. I said to myself this is how I want to be viewed so I will do the right thing and gain the respect."
Clarke has always been extending himself to help others, but his official charity started in early 2019.
"In January last year, I saw a blind lady and she was telling me that she has a house but it wanted to be fixed. When I looked at the house, it was in a deplorable condition," he said. "So I put it out there on my YouTube channel and a gentleman from England reach out and I put in some funds into it and fixed up her place."
His charity grew wings thereafter and scores of persons have been impacted in many ways. Through his YouTube subscription base, Clarke garners some funds and tops up donations with money made from his job as a waiter at a Negril hotel.
"I mainly take care of the children and the elderly in my community. I often drop off grocery packages valued at $5,000 for them with food stuff so they can have something to eat," he said.
Since the digital divide resulting from COVID-19, which forced school online, many students have been unable to access classes. Being cognisant of the challenges, Clarke managed to donate 50 tablets to students in his community
"The children were so happy and grateful because some parents just don't have it to buy them a tablet or a phone for school," he said. "I know I impacted 50 lives right there and it feels good." His latest project saw him erecting a three-bedroom home for a woman who was homeless with three children.
"The house is almost done and I'm super happy about that. Just to know that I can help to put a roof over someone's head warms my heart," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.