An outpouring of community support helped to bring Christmas spirit to Court Street yesterday.

Regina Peniston said: “It’s been very overwhelming. I have a lot of gratitude to these people.”

She was speaking at the annual Boxing Day dinner she has organised for more than a decade.

Ms Peniston, 54, earlier this month made a plea for volunteers to help make sure this year’s event was a success.

The St David’s resident said that she did not know many of the people who had stepped forward to help.

Ms Peniston added: “I actually met most of them here for the first time today.”

She said that the tough times she experienced in her own life more than two decades ago had motivated the event.

Ms Peniston explained: “I remember Christmases past without having a Christmas dinner and how sad I felt.

“I vowed the last year that I went through that struggle that if I ever had a chance to, I would give back, and I would do this every Christmas.”

She said that the happiness of those who attended the dinner was what motivated her to continue year after year.

Ms Peniston added: “I believe that I was born to serve.

“I have always been a person that gives.”

She said that she had already started thinking about next year’s event.

Ms Peniston added: “I just love what I do — and I am going to do it until the day that I die.

“This is going to be every year until I can’t do it any more.”

Ms Peniston thanked the New Testament Church of God: Heritage Worship Centre, KPMG, MultiStrat Re, MarketPlace, Grotto Bay Hotel and Fairmont Southampton for their help to make the event possible.

Yesterday’s event was held in the parking lot of Jamaican Grill.