SMYRNA--The poor in Kingston, Jamaica, will benefit from the sixth annual Lenten drive for Father Richard Holung and his Missionaries of the Poor conducted by St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

An impressive 6,580 pounds of food, including beans, instant potatoes, flour, canned meats and vegetables, powdered milk, peanut butter and oatmeal were collected.

Brian Durham, chairman of the parish Jamaica Outreach Program, said this was a 20 percent increase over the amount collected last year.

Father Jim Caffery, MS, pastor, called the drive "an undertaking in which the hand of God is seen in the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle." There are 1,700 families in the parish.

Father Holung and his congregation also will receive a cash donation and toiletries, T-shirts, a crib, crib mattresses and pillows. Students from five to 18 years of age enrolled in the parish school of religion collected soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, gauze, bandages and belts. Sue Senecal, director of religious education, called the effort "one way in which the young people can minister to the least of our brothers and sisters...a very good lesson in Catholic Christian principles."

Each week during Lent parishioners were asked to bring specific items and leave them in the commons area of the church. Father Caffery and Father Dan Bradley, MS, parochial vicar, helped volunteers led by Dan Sabbarese pack and wrap the boxes for shipping to Jamaica.

During the drive each parish family is also invited to pledge $20 per quarter for the mission. This money is sent directly to the Missionaries of the Poor. For the second year in a row, a private single donation was enough to purchase 150 chickens to provide a source of protein for people aided by the Missionaries of the Poor.

Father Holung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, has been a yearly visitor to Atlanta parishes since the early 1980s. Forty brothers work with him and serve in Haiti, the Philippines and India as well as Jamaica.

The four apostolates in Kingston are:

The Lord's Place, the newest and still under construction. When complete it will house about 300 residents. At present there are about 100 children and young adults. Most of the children have been abandoned or orphaned, although some are with their mothers. Land for the building was donated by a Kingston business owner.

Good Shepherd Home is a residence for about 75 men ranging in age from 17 to the elderly. Many have profound mental and physical disabilities. At the home they find peace and for the oldest a chance to die with dignity.

Jacob's Well houses about 80 women and children ranging in age from the very young to the very old. They are cared for by the sisters of Father Holung's order who also teach the children the rudiments of spelling and arithmetic.

Faith Centre shelters about 70 men, women and children who are disabled and cannot take care of themselves. The brothers and sisters minister to them since there are no government services available.

Each Thursday people from the slums around Faith Centre line up for the weekly distribution of food. For some recipients this is the only food they receive.

Every October a group of parish volunteers visits Father Holung, his missionaries and residents of the four Kingston homes. This year 30 parishioners, including a medical support team, anticipate making the trip.

Anyone wishing to help this ministry may contact Durham at (770) 421-0829 or John Boyle at (404) 696-4976.