MAY PEN, Clarendon — The smallest acts of kindness have the greatest impact on those on the receiving end.

But although he didn’t see it as a big deal, May Pen businessman Stephen Liao has done a lot to lift the spirits of two small farmers in his community. He bought more than 1,800 pounds of farm produce from two farmers, only to give it away for free to his more than 100 employees.

“They have been toiling and struggling to plant their crops amid the drought conditions and then the rains came for a few days, and when the crops came they ended up with a surplus. So I just decided to purchase it from them, and because I have nowhere to sell ground produce, I just gave it out to my staff,” Liao explained when asked about the initiative that had tongues wagging.

A few vendors who sell produce in the May Pen Market also profited from the gesture. They were gifted several pounds of carrot, Irish potatoes and cabbage, which they shared among themselves for resale.

As Liao explained, he was motivated by his drive to ensure the produce did not spoil and his need to ensure the farmers keep earning a living. He sees them as a vital part of the country’s economy.

“Sometimes they have chickens and I take it from them and sell it back in my store. Even a few months ago when quite a few small farmers had a surplus of chicken, I bought it from them and sold it to my customers. I don’t like to know that they work so hard and then when they are ready to reap they end up with a glut and don’t know what to do with it, because the market is already saturated. Production costs are high and they will lose money, and they have their families to look after and bills to pay so I do my part to encourage them to keep planting so they can survive too,” Liao told the Jamaica Observer.

Claudette Campbell is one of the vendors who benefitted from the initiative. She expressed gratitude for Liao’s act of kindness. Business is tough, she said, and sometimes the little they earn all goes into paying bills.

The vendor of more than 20 years said Liao’s generosity and support for her and her peers is unmatched as no other member of the business community has ever provided such assistance.

Like Campbell, vendor Nadira Taylor is thankful for Liao’s help. She only wishes other operators of medium and large businesses would emulate his efforts.

“I know not every day people will do things like this for us but these once-in-a-while gestures do help. We appreciate it very much and we thank Mr Liao very much for giving us the items. This will help us along the way, though small it may seem,” said a grateful Taylor.