Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Errol Atkinson (right) of Rum Lane, Kingston, presents gifts to members of the community on New Year's Day, January 1, 2005. Mr. Atkinson has been making such donations to the less fortunate for 31 years.

Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

On November 1, every year for the past 31 years, 61-year-old Errol Atkinson begins putting his packages together. He distributes these packages of basic food items on Christmas and New Year's Day, to the elderly and homeless, living in and around his community in downtown Kingston.

Though he gives what he can throughout the year, during the Christmas season he tries to make it extra special. However, over the years, the number of persons who have come to look to him for this yearly donations has grown tremendously. Last year, there were 450 persons. Unfortunately, this number is becoming too great for this one-man show.

Once a vendor in the downtown area, Atkinson usually gets assistance from some of the businesses in the area, but with such a large number, he's doubting his ability to fulfil that need this year.

"I feel like I want to stop, but Father God sey no, you have to do it. But from Sunday, it don't seem like it will work. I not doing it to look a hustling and some of the businesses are always willing to help."

God provides

Despite the seemingly impossible task, Atkinson is driven to help those persons who depend on him. "When they receive it, they say God bless and guide you, and it work. Even when little sugar (diabetes) tek me, these same old people come and pray for me and obviously it working. Dem help cheer mi up when dem sey, 'di bag a groceries you give me mek me cook for two weeks".

Atkinson currently operates a small bar and restaurant downtown. He notes that he doesn't know how it happens, but he is able to break even, despite freely giving to anyone who comes in and is in need. "When people come in, I can't hear dem sey dem hungry and don't give it to them."

He says God constantly provides for him, and if he is at his last dollar and the children in his community are unable to go to school, he will give it to them. "I don't know where I get it from. When I hear di children in a Rum Lane a sey dem naw go school, I tell dem to put on dem clothes. Some way, somehow, God mek mi hustle it back."