And while those kids were cashing in tickets at the Red Cross, others in the Children's Home were being hosted at a lunch provided by the City Council's Crime Prevention Committee. It's a special case because the 54 children are presently residents of the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre on St. Thomas Street. While the kids at this institution are never forgotten are around this time of the year it is the first time that a high number of them will not be going home for the holiday. That is why all attempts are being made to make the season extra special for them.
Hortence Augustine, Foster Mother - Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre
"They feel so excited, they feel so happy, they feel so appreciated that there are people out there that want to be with them that want to be around them that want to socialize with them because too many times we have children that are withdrawn, you know withdrawn from society and so by the mayor coming and bringing her entourage with her you know it's very special it is a very special day for them."
Jacqueline Godwin,
How many of these children will have an opportunity to go home for the Christmas or I would imagine most of them will stay here?
Hortence Augustine,
"In the past we had sometimes like only one person, one child staying behind but now Jackie it does not look that good. Most of them will be right here in the centre for Christmas."
Mark King, City Councilor - Crime Prevention
"The reason we chose this centre was because most of the kids that were being looked at have their mothers, fathers they have their parents and people to care for them. Here at the centre it is a bit different, they really do not have parents we believe that they are more in need than other kids and so today we decided to join up along side the national Anti Crime Committee and the City Council and let these children feel a great warmth of love for Christmas."
Jacqueline Godwin,
You know Christmas is family time so what do you'll do to let these children feel at home while they know that they are not in their home environment?
Hortence Augustine,
"What happens is that we have workers that have to come in on Christmas Day so what and we want them to be with their families also so what we try to do, what we will try to do this year as we notice that we will have a lot of children staying behind we will try to see if we can make one big happy family Christmas dinner with the workers and their families and the children so they can feel you know and get a couple of fathers to come in to the centre also sow e can have a real Christmas family gathering you know that is the best that we can do."
So far the children have had many treats. Today's activity was number ten and an equal number of events are expected to be held over the next five days. In fact, the centre's foster mother Hortense Augustine says she knows there will be no shortage of toys and she has been encouraging the boys and girls to share with other children who they know may not be getting anything for Christmas.
