Daphne Golding chooses kindness over sacrifice

While many begin Lent by giving up indulgences, Central Kingston resident Daphne Golding chooses a path of giving. For 18 years, this community champion has turned a neighbourhood shop into a beacon of generosity, cooking meals for children who might otherwise go without.

"Mi nah give up nothing fi Lent, all I can give is mi kindness," she shared, a bold statement that captures her unique approach to faith and generosity.

Golding's journey into community service began years ago. As a devoted caregiver to children who weren't her own, she made personal sacrifices that laid the foundation for her mission.

"Mi sleep a grung three years straight and gi dem mi bed," she recalls, a testament to the long hours and tireless dedication that defined her early days.

But it was one evening that a divine calling reshaped her destiny.

"A God gi mi dah day deh that's why mi affi dweet. God said to me say I must give back some of what I'm earning, anything weh mi have mi must give back some and Him seh to mi I will give you a date inna the month, dweet Ash Wednesday, and from that I listen to His calling," she explains.

From that moment, Ash Wednesday became more than just a date on the calendar, it became her day to give.

Rooted in deep Christian faith, Golding's annual cookout is more than a meal; it's a gathering of children and families, a celebration of kindness and community. Rather than observe Lent through self-deprivation, Golding's initiative stands as a living sermon on the virtues of giving and community.

"Without God, you are nothing in this world. Mi just love God bad, bad," she insists, a sentiment that resonates with the many who have come to rely on her generosity.

Each Ash Wednesday, as the clock strikes 6 p.m., members of the community gather with anticipation. Golding spares no effort in ensuring that every child is cared for; she stocks up on supplies, sometimes buying as many as 300 plates and cups to meet the demand. Cooking over a coal stove in a space she has painstakingly refurbished, she prepares an array of dishes, from curry chicken back to stew chicken back.

"Mi use to cook curry goat but the crowd thicker and mi nuh really have that much money so mi just buy di five case a chicken back," she explains, adapting her menu to best serve the growing number of guests.

Despite financial setbacks and logistical hurdles, her resolve remains unshaken. She funds the cookout through her personal savings, occasional Cash Pot winnings, bottle sales, and contributions from friends both locally and overseas.

Local supporter Denise Duckworth, who has lived in the community since childhood, has witnessed the significance of the cookout firsthand. She describes it as a lifeline for many children, especially on holidays when some parents are unable to provide a proper meal.

"Mi think she doing really good cause yuh know sometimes some a the kids dem parents nuh cook pon holiday and thing, so mi think she doing a good thing," Duckworth said in admiration.

Her story is one of many that shows how much the community depends on the annual tradition.

She recalled a moment that truly captured the cookout's importance. "Mi see when them tell her thanks and she overjoy," Duckworth said.

She shared a memory that stood out. "One time, a girl from farrin down the road keep a treat, and she did a wonder if di children dem woulda come. But as soon as it done, the whole a dem march come up here--like when war a gwaan!" she said. "Dem say, 'Member Miss Daphne cookout!' And somebody seh, 'Ms Daphne, a half a hot dog wi get!' Hear her, 'Oh God!' And she starts share the food for them."

For many children, the cookout is more than just a meal, it's something they rely on. Some even return to collect food for their parents, ensuring that no one in their household goes without.