More than 300 homeless people, as well as senior citizens, were made to feel merry in downtown Kingston at the start of the new year on Wednesday, courtesy of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

Apart from having hearty meals among themselves and with councillors of the KSAMC, the homeless and the elderly danced up a storm and sang to some of their favourite vintage songs.

Seventy-year-old Mavis Powell, who made it clear that she was not homeless, was over the moon as she shared how much she was grateful for the food as well as the music.

“I turned 70 years old, Wednesday gone. I enjoyed myself here today, much better than where I went for my birthday. I didn’t hear this kind of music. You never see me dancing?” she said.

“The event today was good for all the people because many of them don’t have no food and they came, ate and enjoyed themselves. I must tell you, too, that the Christmas was good because I wasn’t sick. My mother is 96 and she has 10 of us and she nuh lose any. Everybody is still standing,” Powell told the Jamaica Observer.

Wayne Stay, who is 55 years old, shared that Wednesday’s initiative made him happy.

“I feel good about being down here today. I live at the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the homeless and all who up there were invited to come here and participate. It helps us to feel happy that persons remember us and put out an effort to make us get something,” he told the Observer.

Councillor Devon Jackson (PNP, Payne Land Division) underscored that it was very important to always look out for the less fortunate.

“It gives me a great feeling to be a part of this,” he said.

Councillor Vivienne Brown-Bond (PNP, Kintyre Division), who is a member of the KSAMC’s Poor Relief Committee, said it was important to lift the spirits of the less fortunate.

“This kind of thing is my passion. When the mayor appointed me to this mission, I knew it was coming from God. I love to serve these kinds of people. I love to mix and mingle with them. They need to feel loved. Sometimes they feel neglected, so we put them around tables and have them drink and feast together. We don’t scorn them. We let them know that we are one. The same God they serve is the same God we serve,” Brown-Bond said.

Councillor Tosha Schwapp (JLP, Stony Hill Division) pointed to the importance of helping to change people’s lives.

“We hope we can change the life of some of the persons that are here and that we will be able to transition them into being contributors and being able to help themselves. It’s a pleasure being here and I thank the Lord for allowing us all to see 2025 and to start the year in such a wonderful way — giving back, sharing love. Sharing and feeding with the less fortunate reminds us that this can be the fate of anyone of us,” Schwapp said.

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby said the aim was to start off the new year attempting to make the less fortunate feel special.

“What we did was try to create an ambiance that is welcoming where they are comfortable as they are being fed. We had a little motivational talk with them to let them know that even though they may be hitting on hard times, they have a purpose, and they really appreciate the gesture by the KSAMC, the Poor Relief Department, and Hummingbird Feeds,” he said.

Hummingbird Feeds is a programme run by charity organisation Hummingbirds.