THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR - Farmer extends hand of kindness - Helps people weather virus storm

April 14, 2020
Hyacinth Style, a farmer from Mount Airy in West Rural St Andrew, makes a living by selling her produce in downtown Kingston. She has stopped going to the market and has resorted to giving away produce from her farm as a way of helping persons cope with fallout from COVID-19.
Hyacinth Style is the epitome of a good neighbour.
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Sixty-three-year-old food vendor Hyacinth Style is the epitome of a good neighbour. This Mount Airy, St Andrew, resident has been donating her farm produce to persons in her community since she decided to stay away from selling in the market due to the fear of contracting the dreaded COVID-19.

Style told THE STAR that even though she is having a tough time, she believes it is important to help people who are in need.

“I use to go to the market three times a week, now I can’t go at all. The last time I went was in February, so I’m actually down to nothing now,” said Style. “But I still have to help, if me see somebody who nuh have it me give them a hand of banana because everybody is struggling.”

The senior citizen said that persons have travelled from Kingston to the rural St Andrew, seeking to get ground provisions and she has had no problems giving them.

“Sometimes people will drive come from town, and come in early, and beg me a hand of banana. Me give them soursop too, or whatever me have. Up to yesterday I cut a banana and give it away to somebody who came here because I know everybody don’t have,” she said.

Along with the ground produce, she has also managed to give persons a few chickens from her farm.

“I had 140 chickens and some people come and help me kill them. Although I pay them $1,500 each, me give each person a chicken. Dem get chicken foot and gizzard,” she said

“I have to share everything I have with my friends, like some elderly people. I don’t even wait on them to ask me because I know that they don’t plant any food and dem nuh have it, so I give,” she said.

Style told THE STAR that she has her grandchildren to care for, and her savings is running low, but she is compelled to help others and trust the Lord to help her provide for her family.

“I have something that most people don’t have so I share it. It doesn’t make sense either for it spoil and go back to the earth where it coming from,” the good neighbour said.

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