Thanks to the Virgin Islands Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 31 men and women suffering from mental illness forgot their woes for an evening and simply celebrated Christmas.
It has been a difficult holiday season for the residents of Michele Motel, all of whom suffer from some type of mental illness. Just before Thanksgiving they ran out of medications because the government had failed to pay their pharmacy bills Thanks to an emergency donation of psychotropic medicines from local pharmacists, residents were stabilized, according to the Daily News.
But for a moment on Wednesday night life was brighter.
With discounts provided by Kmart and Tropicana, Alliance members bought clothing and perfume for the men and women of Michel Motel — and they partied.
The V.I. Alliance for the Mentally Ill is an offshoot of the national organization that supports the mentally ill and their families. Many members have relatives who suffer from mental illness.
The Alliance also tries to educate the public about the mentally ill and to dispel some of the ignorance and fear surrounding the mentally ill.
"What they really need, is a safe home, clean clothes and a bed to sleep in, "said Alliance member Tany Fuertes.