RHTY&SC cricket teams launch Christmas Charity programme

– make donations to clubs, NGO, churches and less fortunate families

The ten cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) last Sunday launched their largest ever Christmas Charity programme.
Under supervision of Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu, the teams have undertaken to share out 1,000 food hampers and 5,000 Christmas toys; along with clothing, footwear, educational materials and school bags to less fortunate families across the Ancient County. This is scheduled to happen between December 7th and 24th.

The teams would also be distributing hundreds of special packages to single-parent households, and provide Christmas breakfast to senior citizens.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has said the COVID-19 pandemic is the factor behind the increase in activities in this year’s programme, as the teams were aware that the lives of many have been affected. In a joint partnership with the Berbice Cricket Board from April to November, the teams had shared out over six thousand food hampers, thousands of facemasks, published an educational COVID poster, and distributed cleaning items to dozens of public institutions. The teams have handed over dozens of food hampers to cricket clubs across the county.

Among the clubs receiving food hampers were Paradise, Blairmont, Achievers, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Port Mourant, Whim and Young Warriors. The entire membership of the club and single parent households in the Lower Corentyne area also received hampers. More than three hundred and fifty hampers have been shared out to date along with hundreds of toys. Donations of toys have been made to over fifteen organisations, orphanages and churches, including the Rose Hall Town Wesleyan Church, St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Camal Children Home, Canaan Children Home, Alpa Children’s Home, Dream for Kids INC, Feed the Children Foundation Inc, Corriverton Anglican Church, among others.

The St Francis Church also benefited from a contribution of special gifts that would be used in their weekly birthday project for members.
The Canaan Children’s Home also received a donation of footwear and food items, while the Dream for Kids INC located in the Upper Corentyne area received a donation of educational materials and confectionery.
The teams also visited the homes of two Upper Corentyne cricketers to offer over food hampers and educational materials. One of the cricketers died following an accident, while the other was badly injured during an argument. Foster, who is also the President of the BCB, has pledged to assist the families as much as possible until all of the children complete their educational careers. He also committed to providing a cricket bat and a pair of batting gloves to one of the children who requested assistance to fulfill his dream of playing for the West Indies.
The teams would continue their programme with the distribution of hundreds of toys to less fortunate children on Sunday at the Area H Ground. Another seven hundred food hampers would be shared out during the course of the next two weeks, while school bags, clothing and footwear would also be handed out to families in depressed areas.
A new feature this year would be the sharing out of 500 special Christmas bags consisting of confectionery, apples, grapes, walnuts and biscuits to single parent households. At least three hundred senior citizens would receive a Christmas Breakfast from the teams. The breakfast would include a cup of hot tea, cold juice, local fruits, pepperpot, bread and black cake. Two homeless persons would also be surprised with a special makeover, which would include new clothes, haircut and pampering.
The programme would conclude with the hosting of the annual Christmas Village in the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School from the 22nd to 24th December. The National COVID-19 Task Force has granted permission for the village to be held, with some restrictions.
The club would not be allowed to use the traditional bouncy castle or trampoline, or host the popular horror house.
Foster stated that the village would be held under very strict COVID guidelines and only forty persons would be allowed at one time. Among the popular attractions would be inflatable Christmas Characters, the Nativity Scene, 20-foot Christmas Tree, Christmas Star, Family Bridge, Christmas Chimney, Children’s games and the Christmas home.
The ten teams of the club are the Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Poonai under 12 and under 13, Bakewell under 17 and second division, Pepsi under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Namilco Thunder Bolt Flour under 21 and First Division.