Spreading Christmas Cheer

Flow, in partnership with The Gleaner and the Acts of the Holy Spirit Ministries International, fed over 40 homeless persons in Montego Bay on Sunday. This forms apart of Flow's mandate this festive season to help persons who are in need.- Photo by Sheena Gayle

In spreading the gift of benevolence in this festive season, telecommunications provider Flow partnered with Acts of the Holy Spirit Ministries International to feed some 40 homeless people in Montego Bay on Sunday.

Public relations manager at Flow, Jeanette Lewis, said the initiative was part of a greater effort to spread the Christmas cheer to those who are less fortunate and to ensure the indigents are cared for.

"It is not very often that our homeless persons are provided with the spiritual nutrition and receive the actual nutrition for the body," she outlined.

"We wanted it to be done right and we were told that Sam Sharpe Square is the place they worship on a Sunday, and we set up something nice in their natural environment and treated them with the care they deserve."

Pastor Doreth Blake of Acts of the Holy Spirit Ministries International, which does an outreach church service with the homeless persons in Montego Bay, welcomed the effort.

"Every Sunday, we have a church service with the street persons and then we give them a nice Sunday meal after service, and we are always looking for persons to partner with us," the pastor said.

"Drummond Catering is one of our consistent partners, and so we are happy that Flow came and did something like this for the homeless. Many of them are not insane, they are just homeless, and it is our duty to care for those in need."

Grateful for charity

Norris Beckford, who has seen worse days, is grateful for his life and the work of charities in helping him to get his life back on track.

"I was living on the street on drugs and being kicked around. I even lost one of my eyes," he shared. "It was Mr (Paul) and Mrs Blake who showed us that there is a better way to live. There is a better way through Christ. It's not only about feeding us, they have done so much more for us."

He further added that the pastors did not only seek to spread the gospel but actively played a role in ensuring that they were properly fed each Sunday.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111217/news/news5.html