Homeless treated to a day of care
Published:Monday | December 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Just for a day, the homeless in downtown Kingston didn't have to worry about their next meal. Nor did they have to worry about where they could get new clothes to replace tattered ones.
Thanks to the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), more than 600 destitute men, women and children were treated to hot meals, clothing, spa and medical treatment, counselling and entertainment at the St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston on Saturday.
Into its fifth year, chairman of CVSS, Errol Greene, said he was happy to be able to lift the spirits of the needy in observance of International Volunteer Day, which was marked yesterday.
One elderly man walked up to Greene and said, "All I want is a suit of clothes for church tomorrow."
He was led over to a clothes-distribution area and his face lit up as he found just what he was looking for. His day was made.
Needy persons queued up for food, manicures, pedicures, facials, haircuts and styling, as well as care packages with toiletries. They were also treated to blood-pressure, vision, blood-sugar and HIV tests.
Greene thanked the more than 200 volunteers from Boys' Brigade, St John Ambulance, Children First, the Ministry of Health, the Foundation for International Self-Help, Kiwanis, Diabetes Association, The Salvation Army, Cancer Society, Red Cross, Heart Foundation, National Commercial Bank, Food For The Poor, Juici Patties, Jamaica Broilers, Caribbean Broilers, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation.