FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) will stage a 5K run/walk in Falmouth on Saturday, October 12 to raise funds to start a chicken rearing project on the grounds of the Falmouth Homeless Shelter.

Speaking at the regular monthly meeting of the TMC on Thursday, Mayor of Falmouth Councillor C Junior Gager explained that clients at the shelter will be asked to assist in the operation of the chicken farm.

“The run/walk is in support of raising funds to set up a chicken coop which will be built on site. The homeless will help to raise these chickens so that it can be used to subsidise meat that they are going to be consuming. So it will cost a little less because this will be chicken that they will be raising,” said Gager.

He announced the the 5K run/walk will start at 6:00 am and participants will be asked to make a contribution of $1,000 for adults and $500 for children.

According to Gager, there is already a lot of support for the event among people in the private and public sector. Falmouth Chicken, a rapidly growing fast food outlet with branches in Falmouth, Montego Bay, and Lucea, is the platinum sponsor for the event.

“A lot of people are coming on board from various agencies [including] the hotel sector, everybody is getting on board. It is going to be very good. So we are looking forward to this,” Gager said.

During a break from the monthly meeting, councillors and executive members of the TMC joined representatives of the Poor Relief Department, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, a team from Sandals Resorts International, and others on the grounds of the homeless centre to observe World Homeless Day.

Clients of the homeless centre were treated to meals by Sandals and Falmouth Chicken.

Last year, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie officially opened the Falmouth Homeless Shelter in Trelawny.

The facility was constructed at a cost of $25 million and provides temporary shelter, meals, and bathroom amenities for the homeless citizens of Falmouth and its environs.

It is located on the same premises as the Trelawny Drop-in Centre, which was opened by the Government in 2020.

Operator of Falmouth Chicken Christopher Jobson (left) is greeted by Mayor of Falmouth C Junior Gager on the grounds of the Falmouth Homeless Shelter during the observance of World Homeless Day on Thursday..