The Junior Council of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC JC) is appealing to persons to make donations to its clothing drive.
The drive, which ends on January 28, is organised by members of the Council to benefit the homeless population in Kingston and St. Andrew.
“2022 was a year that was very hard, especially for the homeless community, so we are seeking to assist in getting them clothes, keeping them warm and providing them with some resources that will last them for the foreseeable future,” Junior Youth Coordinator of the KSAMC JC, Karyl Thorpe, told JIS News.
The Junior Councillors are requesting a diversity in the clothing items to meet the needs of members of this vulnerable population. These will benefit the homeless and persons in shelters and transitional facilities in the municipality.
“Clothing is not just shirts and pants and blouses but also handbags, sneakers, jackets and headbands. This is purely for the need, as we have persons at shelters who are also looking for jobs and we don’t want them to feel ostracised because of their clothing.
We would like for them to be able to elevate themselves,” Ms. Thorpe explained.
The Junior Councillors are also requesting the donation of non-perishable food items and toiletries.
“The KSAMC Junior Council would like to appeal to companies across Jamaica that are manufacturers or distributors of clothing or food items or anything that a person would need for basic living. Please donate what you can, we would greatly appreciate it,” urged the Youth Inspector of Poor for the KSAMC Junior Council, Tiana Morrison.
Donations from interested individuals, organisations, schools and community-based groups may be delivered to the KSAMC JC’s drop-off location at the Corporation’s offices at 24 Church Street, Kingston, on Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Junior Council also offers collection services for those who would like to make a donation but are unable to make it to the downtown Kingston drop-off location. Collection may be arranged by calling Tiana Morrison at 876-880-9297 or the KSAMC Public Relations Unit at 876-853-7935.
The Youth Inspector of Poor is encouraging her peers to get involved in activities like these that contribute to improving the lives of others.
“I would encourage high-school students and youth overall to get more involved in things like this. You do not need money or a whole lot of time to give back to your community or to make an impact. Persons appreciate the small things,” Ms. Morrison said.
The Junior Council concept was formalised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and they are hosted by municipal corporations for one year. The Junior Council provides an avenue for young people to play their part in the transformation of their communities and educate citizens about the importance of local government.