Madden’s brings alive Christmas spirit with annual treat
Published:Tuesday | December 19, 2023 | 12:10 AMAshley Anguin/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
MADDEN’S FUNERAL Home’s business in Montego Bay, St James, brought the Yuletide spirit alive when its members distributed well-needed food items to benefit several impoverished residents yesterday, as part of their annual Christmas treat.
A total of 500 people, some of whom have disabilities, benefited from this year’s event, which cost over J$800,000 to host.
The inclement weather could not stop the people who showed up to collect their Christmas goodies. And with the sun barely out, the bright smiles were enough to lighten up the day.
Isiaa Madden, managing director of Dovecot Montego Bay, told The Gleaner that giving food during Christmas has been a long-time family tradition.
“This is a tradition I inherited from my parents, and as a child I was summoned to Madden’s in Kingston to also serve and give away food to the people of downtown Kingston by my grandfather. My father continued the tradition here in Montego Bay, where we were also giving out food. Also, my children now have carried on the tradition of giving out food every Christmas. I remember I was about eight years old when I started going up to age 15, so it has been a very long time,” Madden said.
“It appears as if the weather has caused less people to come this year, but we are still giving away throughout the day as people come. This year our budget went up tremendously because of the cost of the goods,” Madden added. “Today, we gave away bags filled with flour, sugar, cornmeal, tins of food, red peas, cooking oil and other food items. On Friday, the Madden’s in Kingston will be doing a treat as well.”
Order was on display as residents, from the elderly to the young, obediently stood and waited in lines to collect their food quickly. Some were seen sitting on the sidewalk going through their bag filled with the food items after having patiently waited to receive them.
The 500 attendees at this year’s staging numbered less than those who had shown up for the treat in previous years, where Madden’s Funeral Home had served up to 800 on occasion.
Aziza Brownie, Madden’s 16-year-old daughter, admitted that this act of generosity has given her a wonderful feeling for having participated.
“It is a blessing to be in this position. Being able to know that my family can do this and that my mother has passed down this legacy. I really do enjoy it because bringing cheer and joy is what the holiday is all about,” Brownie told The Gleaner.
“Seeing these people suffer is not what we want for this world, so it is really nice to be able to give back and bring everyone together this morning. I noticed a lot though, like I saw a lot of blind people, people on crutches and children who were probably on the spectrum. They were happy and that makes me happy,” Brownie added cheerfully.
Irona Cammock, one of this year’s beneficiaries, commended Madden’s Funeral Home for its demonstration of goodwill.
“I am deeply appreciative of this gesture here today. They could have been otherwise doing something else or serving some other institution, but they chose to do it to the community. They have been doing it for years but this is the second time I have been here,” said Cammock. “I appreciate how Mrs Madden deals with the public, in spite of the fact that the crowd can sometimes be boisterous. She has a way of getting around and talking to people, she does not look down on people. My son has autism, so I brought him here with me today and they gave him a bag.”
Another recipient, 83-year-old Millicent O’Connor, likewise voiced immense gratitude for the funeral home’s gesture.
“All of my family is here them come. From father to stepfather, mother, aunt, everybody, is Madden’s bury them. I am happy with the food items. I thank them, I thank Mrs Madden. For this Christmas, I am alright but am not too well. Mi foot dem giving mi problem, so I have to carry my grandson to help me,” O’Connor expressed.