Falmouth’s homeless get second daily meal from drop-in centre
Published:Thursday | January 21, 2021 | 12:08 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The $16.5-million drop-in centre opened in Falmouth, Trelawny, last July has added a second meal to its menu for the homeless, moving to providing breakfast and dinner as opposed to original plans for just one meal a day.
“The original plan was that we would be providing the homeless with one hot meal per day, but that arrangement has been changing as we are now offering both breakfast and lunch,” a staffer at the centre, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner earlier this week. “We are exceeding our original mandate, but we see it as a good thing.”
When the facility was opened six months ago, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said that in addition to providing one hot meal per day, the facility would also “provide a place for the homeless to ... shower and have medication administered”.
“It will not be a place for them to sleep,” he pointed out.
The preparation of meals, which is the responsibility of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), is done at the Trelawny Infirmary, after which they are transported to the centre.
TMC CEO Andrew Harrison did not respond to Gleaner questions about the cost to provide the additional meal.
However, retired TMC worker Novelette Anderson believes the extra responsibility taken on by the municipality is a good step.
“It shows how authorities can display how they care for the less fortunate. It would be good if corporate Falmouth can contribute so that more can be done,” said Anderson.
Interestingly, it would appear that an offer by Restaurants of Jamaica, operators of the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises, to provide one hot meal per week to the centre has not yet borne fruit for reasons unknown.
“As part of our corporate responsibility, arrangements will be made to fulfil this promise. It is still on,” explained ROJ Brand Manager Andrae Roper.
Oswald Lewis, who was once homeless, sees the centre as a good initiative as it is helping to restore some dignity to the homeless.
“Is a good ting, mi a tell yu. When mi did deh pon di street, mi eat out a garbage drum and di spoiled tin food weh di supermarket dem dash weh,” said Lewis. “Only mi madda wuda gi mi cooked food and pray fi mi.”