A grandmother’s charge
A tribute to a newborn grandchild matures into 37 years of feeding the homeless
Published:Sunday | December 29, 2024 | 12:07 AMErica Virtue - Senior Gleaner Writer
Camille Downer-Bell, born in late 1987, became the first grandchild of Alice and Noel Downer. But long before her arrival, her grandparents, who had already established a tradition of giving back, suggested that the family honour her birth by showing love and kindness during Christmas.
This idea was embraced by the family and transformed into a pledge to feed the homeless across the Corporate Area with healthy meals and drinks.
Over the years, this tradition has grown into a full-fledged operation, with the Downers’ eight children actively involved in the initiative, which is one of several charitable endeavours they support to help those less fortunate.
On Boxing Day, 13 family members set out in cars and vans from Molynes Gardens, St Andrew, distributing 200 boxes of food at various locations across the city.
Camille, the person in whose honour this gift-giving tradition began, was unable to join the distribution. She was in the hospital, about to give birth to her own child, who was due on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, the Portmore branch of the family stayed at the hospital to welcome the new great-grandchild. As the food was being distributed, Camille gave birth to a son, as shared by her aunt, Gaynor Downer.
“It started on Christmas Day in 1987. We are a praying family and we used to have family devotion. Then mom said everybody needs to give an offering during family devotions. So it’s 52 Saturdays in the year, so we all gave our offering. It was a weekly contribution and so my mother was asking what we should do with the money,” Gaynor explained, noting that a week later, his mom said they should feed the homeless.
Dr Goulda Downer, the second child, also weighed in.
“It started because my parents were having their first grandchild. And my mother said we should honour our brothers and sisters ... . She said we could honour the next generation by serving the homeless, so we have kept it as a tradition in the family,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.
“One of the first persons we fed was a man on Washington Boulevard, near Zaidie Gardens,” Gaynor recalled. When we gave him the food, he put the food down on the ground and lifted his hands to the sky. And we said that was the sign that this is what we should do.”
FEEDING VENTURES
Since then, the family has ventured into gullies, under bridges, and to various street corners to feed the homeless. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when gatherings were prohibited, they provided sausages, crackers, and drinks. Since then, they have returned to their regular food distribution, with Karl Downer and his family leading the effort at various stops, including the first stop in front of the Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston. It was clear that the family was well-known, as the car was quickly surrounded by the homeless, the majority of whom were men.
“What can we do? It seems every year the number gets bigger and bigger, and it’s mostly men. It is so sad. Where are their families? We assume that they are mad, but some are just homeless for so many different reasons. There are so many things at play here, and I wonder how we are going to solve that,” Karl said as he paused to speak with The Sunday Gleaner. “I just don’t know.”
Camille is the daughter of Paul, the Downer’s first son and one of 18 grandchildren. Six children, six grandchildren and an in-law participated in last Thursday’s treat.
Golda, a nutritionist, explained that the entire initiative is financed by the eight children, and the grandchildren contribute by baking cakes and preparing desserts.
“We serve a healthy meal,” Goulda said, “and food sanitation and safety is paramount for us.”
The meals served on Boxing Day included barbecue and baked chicken, rice and peas, salad, cake, and drinks.
Goulda, who works as a professor at the College of Medicine at Howard University, has used her expertise in nutrition to ensure the meals are healthy and safe.
600 MEALS PER DAY
Over the years, the family has served as many as 600 meals in a day, and in the last five years, they’ve also distributed care packages with toiletries, soap, toilet paper, and clothes.
Stacy Francis was one of three who received their meals in front of the Ward Theatre.
“Jamaica does not have a crime problem. We have a bad mind problem. Everybody envy people for dem tings. And dat is what cause crime at di local level. Di other tings dem is corruption. Is the bad mind and corruption dat cause many a we to be out here on de streets,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.
Francis was there with her young son, Michael, an energetic bundle of mischief. He held his baked chicken meal tightly, dropping his fork while trying to pour his juice into a bottle.
After distributing food at the Ward Theatre, the family moved on to Justice Square, where they continued their work, this time serving a mix of men and women, young and old. One of the recipients noted that another group had already served food, and he was collecting food to “eat later” as it was a public holiday and many places remained closed.
After decades of service, the family is considering changing the distribution date from Boxing Day, as many other individuals and organisations also give back on that day. They are also planning to move the distribution site from Molynes Gardens to other communities where family members live. Next year, the homeless in Linstead, Spanish Town, and Portmore – all in St Catherine – will be served as well.
“Our goal is for people to do it in the communities where they are living and to start with 100 meals. So that will be 800 meals,” Goulda said.
She reflected on how easy it is for her family to give back as they grew up seeing their parents sharing and caring. One lucky high school girl also received a guitar, which she purchased for her to pursue her dream of becoming a musician.