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PHILIPSBURG:--The Community Outreach Mentorship and Empowerment Center, better known as C.O.M.E Center, hosted its first annual Senior Citizens talent showdown at the Cultural Center on Friday, April 22, 2022. The lively event was part of the 10-year anniversary celebrations of the community center located on the Long Wall road. The talent showdown drew an audience ranging from seniors to young adults, to children. This event was one of the C.O.M.E Center's lists of fundraising activities that will be held in upcoming months, to assist in financing its many community outreach initiatives.

The night featured performances in three categories: dance, modeling, and signing. The mistress of ceremonies, Ms. Dorothy 'Rosa' Richardson, provided roaring laughter to the audience with her comedic stand-up and skits. Among the participants in the modeling category were Vera Gumbs, Lena Arrindell, Iris Philips, and Joan Scotland. The ladies wowed the crowd with their casual and formal wear, and exquisite gala gowns provided by New Birth Clothing Store owned by Hyacinth Prince. After much deliberation, Ms. Iris Phillips has been crowned the winner of the modeling category.

In the singing category, there was a tight count among Elsa Thomas, Earlene Groeneveldt, and Jessie Burton, who enamored the crowd with popular gospel songs and 50s classics. Winning the awe of the crowd and judges was Jessie Burton who shared her testimony of recently surviving a stroke. Special highlights of the evening were a liturgical dance performed by Idamise Schoop, followed by Vera Gumbs who spiced the crowd with her Tumba recital and cultural wear.

President and founder of the C.O.M.E Center, Marva Sam-Arrindell was elated with the turnout and support for the island's seniors and encouraged everyone to pledge and support the Center's upcoming events and ongoing programs. Along with her husband and co-founder, Apostle Leyland Sam, they presented awards to the two Senior Citizens in Action coordinators who with much dedication and commitment maintained the program during the 10 years. They thanked Mrs. Sandra Mercelina, the coordinator from 2012 to 2016, and Ms. Marcia Arrindell, who took over the role from 2016 to the present, as well as Patricia Flanders, the coordinator of Home Away from Home, another foundation catering to the needs of our elderly citizens.

Funds raised for the C.O.M.E Center will go towards sustaining its senior program, literacy and numeracy programs, as well as the recently launched H.O.P.E community. C.O.M.E. Center takes this opportunity to thank all of its donors who over the years made it possible to achieve its goals of assisting in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable members in the community. Among these are The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), Samenwerkendefondsen, American University of the Caribbean (AUC), Cost-U-Less, the Netherlands Red Cross, SXM DOET, and other organizations such as K1-Brittania and Freegan Foundation. Finally, we want to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers who provide the best services to our clients.

For those who wish to assist and or partner with the C.O.M.E Center, you can email us at comecenter2012@gmail.com or contact us at 520-7267.