Today 1,075 children from fifteen primary schools in Belize City got a head start on their Christmas celebrations. Both the Salvation Army and Continental Airlines helped to spread the Christmas joy for those children most in need of it at annual Christmas parties. Our coverage begins at the Salvation Army which hosted one thousand children at two locations. Our team was at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall and Keith Swift reports.
Keith Swift Reporting,
With Christmas carols booming in the background, 700 hundred children were served Christmas lunch today by workers from the food and beverage division of Madisco. Due to hard times they had to settle for sandwiches, cupcakes, and sausage rolls
instead of the regular rice and beans with turkey. Not all the trimmings, but it was a bellyful and these kids didn't seem to mind. They sucked on their ideals, devoured their tarts, and feasted on sandwiches.
And after the meal they didn't have Santa but there was no need because they had Leela Vernon, Brukdong's reigning queen. Next it came to the best part of the whole afternoon - gifts. Again no Santa but employees from Bravo Motors and the Madisco crew were the elves and Senator Godwin Hulse was Santa for a day. All of the students left with a present in their hand.
And as the first group left with their presents in hand, another group was just waiting in the wings. By no means it is an easy task feeding and giving gifts to one thousand children. The Salvation Army's Regional Commander Major Errol Robateau says that is the reason for the annual party.
Major Errol Robateau,
"This is a tradition for the Salvation Army. We have been doing it for fifty years. Its just that its been getting bigger and bigger as the years go by and we still would like it to get bigger as the people respond then we can accommodate more children. It is a lot of kids."
A lot of kids who tonight might be feeling a little bit more of the Christmas spirit.
The Salvation Army hosted 700 kids at the Parish Hall and 300 at their school on Cemetery Road. The army is still asking for another 1,500 toys to distribute in the districts later this month.
