Annual Street Feeding Program hosted by Mayor of Kingston and Digicel Foundation

Annual Street Feeding Program hosted by Mayor of Kingston and Digicel Foundation Over 1,300 street people around the Kingston Metropolitan area treated to a warm meal

Kingston, Jamaica – 1 January 2010: On Friday, January 1, Digicel Foundation teamed up with His Worship, the Mayor of Kingston; Desmond McKenzie to ensure that over 1,300 homeless persons in the Kingston municipality rang in the New Year with a warm meal. Special teams were organized by the Mayor to transport warm boxed meals to homeless persons in Papine, Cross Roads, New Kingston and Bull Bay between 12noon and 3pm. “The Feeding Program has proven significant for those who live on the streets. It is great that despite the difficulty within the economy, corporate Jamaica, and the people of Kingston and St. Andrew, have remained solid and Digicel, through Digicel Foundation, has supported the cause, without any hesitation” Mayor Desmond McKenzie said. “It was warming to see the faces of so many homeless people light up as they were treated. This was a very commendable initiative and rewarding way to start the New Year by giving back to those that are less fortunate and in need of good cheer,”  said Major General Robert Neish, Executive Director of the Digicel Foundation. He commended Mayor McKenzie and his team on ensuring that these under-privileged persons were remembered at this time of the year, “I was truly moved by what the Mayor has done. He really got involved with the people and tried to assist and accommodate with their circumstances.” During the day, the Mayor also made special stops at the Marigold Child Care Facility, The Jamaica Christian Boys Home as well as to 150 elderly persons at the Denham Town Golden Age Home to deliver meals and other treats. This initiative ended at the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation’s (KSAC) parking lot at the intersection of Church and Tower Streets, where the Mayor dined with about 400 homeless persons who were from the Downtown Kingston area. “We can cut back on everything, but we can’t cut back our support of those who need it more than the rest of us,” Mayor McKenzie also stated.This marks Digicel Foundation’s second initiative in the Downtown area, as on December 12, the Foundation also collaborated with the City Life Ministries to host the ‘Southside Christmas Super-Treat’ for over 3,000 children from the Southside area and surrounding communities of Tivoli Gardens and Matthew’s Lane. The company also recently treated over 700 children from 70 childcare facilities across the island to a ‘Christmas Village’ on December 19. “This was about demonstrating the spirit of Christmas and the true philosophy of corporate social responsibility by giving back to children that are less fortunate. Over the years Digicel has worked with communities that are surrounded by dire needs and challenges, and these were therefore additional ways in which Digicel and the Digicel Foundation gave back to our communities”, closed Robert Neish.