MONTEGO BAY, St James — More than 600 needy people from across western Jamaica turned out for the annual Mission of Mercy Christmas fair held on the compound of the Montego Bay-based Trumpet Call Ministries International last Friday.

Now in its 14th year, the fair saw invitees, from as early as 10:00 am, streaming into the main hall of the church’s building, which was transformed into a shopping mall stocked with fashionable garments, shoes, cosmetic items and bags.

There were also a dental and medical station, a food station, and a children’s village

The invitees were allowed to “shop” free of cost for several pieces of clothing and footwear before visiting the food station for a sumptuous meal.

According to pastor for the Trumpet Call Ministries, Mary Wildish, who started the ministry 15 years ago, the fair was part of a raft of outreach initiatives being undertaken by the church.

“I wanted to show these [less fortunate] people that someone in the city cares for them, so we have gotten a lot of assistance to stage this [the fair] for 14 years,” Pastor Wildish told the Jamaica Observer West.