275 pounds of rice, 110 pounds of red kidney beans, 18 turkeys, and 220 pounds of potato are what it'll take to feed one thousand primary school students. The job is in the hands of the Salvation Army, which holds an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children. The children are entertained, fed, and sent home with a toy. Seven hundred out of the thousand children were fed today. 7NEWS was there and spoke to the Army's Commander Major Errol Robateau and City Councilor Mark King - who played Santa's helper for a day.
Major Errol Robateau, Salvation Army
"We do it every year because Christmas is every year and there is need and where there is need, there is the Salvation Army. This is one of our slogans and we try to reach as many kids as possible to be happy at this time of the year. It is a lot of preparation and last night I went to bed at one o'clock in the morning but it is a joy to do this because my joy is making people happy."
Mark King, Belize City Councilor
"This is a part of our community effort and the Belize City Council saw it fit to assist the Salvation Army in letting these kids feel a wonderful time for Christmas. I mean right now we have crime in the city, the kids really have nowhere to go, nothing to do. This is a time when everybody should give back and just make all the kids feel extremely happy."
Along with a toy, each student left with a toothbrush from Grace Kennedy Belize Limited - the local agent for Colgate-Palmolive. Another three hundred students will be hosted tomorrow afternoon at the Salvation Army School.
