THE Easter spirit for more than 600 people in Kingston and St Andrew was brought to a high on Monday when the Kiwanis Club in Division 23 East collaborated with various stakeholders to provide meals and medical care under its Easter Breakfast for the Homeless initiative.

Lieutenant Governor for Division 23 East, Audrey Brown said her team was on the ground from 5:30 am preparing for distribution.

“We started in Dumfries. We did all of New Kingston and Cross Roads. Another group went to Papine and Liguanea. Another group went Half-Way-Tree, and another group went downtown. We went over to the Desmond McKenzie shelter, and we covered all the shelters this morning,” Brown said.

She added that the shelters served under the initiative included the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre; Temporary Shelter, Church Street; Marie Atkins Night Shelter; and the Denham Town Golden Age Home.

Fredericka, a resident of the Marie Atkins Night Shelter for over a year, told the Jamaica Observer that the experience was a very comforting one for her.

“I appreciate the initiative very much. As a elderly person over 78 years old it is hard for me to go out and get these things, so when they come here it is an extreme relief for me,” she said.

Pointing to the club’s objective, ‘Serving children in need, one community at a time’, Brown explained that not only residents of shelters were being catered to, but outside persons as well.

“All the clubs decided to come together and do one massive project. And it has been so fulfilling to those who are on the streets and in the shelters. Our less fortunate, at times we take them for granted — and for some, this is the only bun and cheese that they will ever have. To us, that is something that we see fit to do. It’s something that means a lot to us.”

Chief medical officer for sponsor Suretime Emergency Medical Services, Dr Andre McDonald said the initiative extends beyond providing food, highlighting that medical assistance was provided to at least 50 people during the visit.

“Today, what we are seeing is the true demonstration of the definition of health. Health is not only physical, but mental, social and financial well-being. In addition, now we even have spiritual well-being. We are here to ensure that people are okay,” he said.

Club President Carolyn McDonald Riley told the Observer that over 300 buns were donated.

“Suretime Emergency Medical Services is our main sponsor. They organised the medical and security services. They also sponsored the cheese. I also want to recognise Island Car Rentals, they provided two buses for us to go back and forth throughout the venues. We also had the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation who met us at the first stop and gave us direction. Flavor Fresh and Newtown Bakery provided the buns for this activity. And Jet Tour also provided us with financial funding to fill the gaps for the things that we were not able to get sponsors for. We also had Lifespan that gave us some water,” she said.

– Billeane Williams

Kiwanis Club Division 23 East Jamaica Lieutenant Governor Audrey Brown (left) gives a cup of porridge to a resident of the Marie Atkinson Night Shelter during a Kiwanis Easter Breakfast for the Homeless treat on Monday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)