Father's Day is on Sunday, but the celebration came early for 200 Fathers and other needy Belize City residents this afternoon because city council staffers served them lunch in Battlefield Park. The chosen 200 were from the various shelters though the city. Councilor Jenny Craig says that while it is only one day, a plate of chicken dinner, a cupcake, and a cup of juice it is the least CITCO can do.
Jenny Craig, Belize City Councilor
"We are feeding the homeless people here at Battlefield Park. This is the second year that we have planned this venture. It is a way of giving back to the community so less emphasis is placed on father's day and we are trying to boost it up. We do have some very good fathers out there and a lot of them would hang out here in the Battlefield Park. So it is a very good way of giving back to the community by having this dinner. It's a complete meal where they get drinks, dinner, and a dessert."
"People pass through the park on a daily basis and they tend to ignore the people that hang out here. We want the public and the community to know that these people have loved ones at home. It is not because they are homeless that they are out here. Some of them are not in the workforce anymore and that's why they hang out here. But we at Belize City haven't forgotten them and we want them to know that we are here for them. We will try to assist them in anyway possible and basically say Happy Father's Day to all the fathers hanging out here."
The morning began with a father's day mass held in honor of all fathers working at city hall.