Salvation Army goodwill brings elder to tears

For the past 18 years, George Dixon, 83, has been a beneficiary of the Salvation Army's Christmas treat.

Dixon, a tradesman, anticipates collecting well-needed food items, as his salary may not be enough to cover a well-desired Christmas meal. Three weeks ago, he lost his personal items in a fire at his Maxfield area home, which has left him in a state of great despair.

However, he was able to brave a smile yesterday, when he went to the donation centre on Lyndhurst Road in St Andrew to collect his Christmas package.

"It was really rough on me since the fire. I cry every single day since the fire you know. I didn't know where my meal coming from and to know that I get some help, it really means a lot to me," the elderly man said, his eyes brimming with tears.

Dixon, known to his peers as 'Windy', was among the 150 persons who received assistance according to Major Paulette Laing of the Salvation Army. This outreach satisfies the tenets of the mandate of the army's ministry, aimed at saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity,

Laing told the news team that food parcels were usually distributed every week but that was affected by the onset of the coronavirus. But she said her team remained committed, although not plenty in quantum, to ensure that persons were able to celebrate Christmas in their environs.

"As long as you're in need, we urge them to come out. While the finances are not as it used to be, it is still bad for them or maybe worse for them because some of them may have lost their jobs. Because COVID-19 is on, it doesn't mean that they are not still hungry. Persons are unemployed, persons are unable to buy what they really need for Christmas and because the need is still there, then we will always give," Laing said.

Scores of persons stood outside the gates of the organisation, awaiting the announcement of their names. Their smiles peeked through their masks, as they expressed gratitude to the members of staff. For this deed, Laing stressed that she is fulfilled knowing that she is doing the Lord's good work.

She cautioned those individuals who may be looking to take advantage of the goodwill to have a conscience.

"We know that there will be persons who are not really in need and they come but it is hard to say, and you don't really want to deny somebody who is really in need for somebody who come because they are not in need," she said. "So we try to give as much as possible and we let them know that this is the needy. So, if you want to come and rob somebody of something that they should get, it is fine, but what we do is to ensure that our regular members get their bags."