Hetmyers, KSM Investments and Bakewell on board RHTY&SC Christmas Programme

The plans of the 12 cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, to make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate during the upcoming Christmas season, this week received a major boost as several donors and sponsors came on board.

The teams would be hosting 12 different activities from December 1st to 24th, including distribution of 1000 food hampers, 7000 toys, 1000 Christmas breakfast, educational materials, cycles, and special festive season packages to single parent households.

The club would also be hosting the seventh edition of its popular Christmas Village under very strict COVID-19 guidelines.

Last week, the club received financial assistance from major donors – West Indies player Shimron Hetmyer and his wife Nirvani; Bakewell, KSM Inc, and Navin and Sons Construction. Additionally, the teams received assistance from several overseas friends as they set about preparing for the festive season.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said preparation for the 32nd edition of the charity programme has been very difficult as the cost of groceries and toys have skyrocketed over the last few months due to the worldwide shipping problem. He noted that, for example, a car toy which cost $400 in 2020 is now priced at $1500, while a bottle of oil which was $340 is now $560. He, however, committed the club and its teams to assisting as much as possible.
The Hetmyers have made a very significant contribution to the club, which would cover the cost of the food hampers project, while KSM Inc and Bakewell contributed a combined $500,000 which was used to purchase toys from China Trading. Bakewell also contributed $100,000 in inflatable characters towards the Christmas Village. Navin and Sons, too, contributed financially towards the toys’ drive.
Over-based Raj Bharrat of the Florida Guyana Hope NGO also contributed financially, along with overseas-based medical doctors Puran Singh and Tulsi Dyal Singh.
Foster has expressed deep gratitude to Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer for their contribution, and hailed them for their support of charitable causes and the development of cricket in the Ancient County.
Gratitude has also been extended to Mahadeo Panchu of KSM Inc, Rajin Ganga of Bakewell, and Navin Deokissoon of Navin and Sons, for their generous contributions.
Foster has also disclosed that the club has been able to clinch a sponsorship deal to assist hundreds of less fortunate students with educational materials, while several others would receive bicycles. The club would assist several non-governmental organisations with food hampers and toys in an effort to reach persons across the county. Donations would also be made to the St Mary Anglican Church and the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, along with several orphanages.
Moreover, the club would be sponsoring a Christmas Concert and a feeding programme at St Francis, which played a major part in formation of the club in 1990.
The 12 teams of the RHTY&SC are: Poonai Under-12 and -13, Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and second division, Pepsi Under-19 and intermediate, Metro females, Vitality Under-23, and Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and first division.