RHTY&SC receives outpouring of support for Christmas programme

– Bakewell, Natural Resources Ministry, Metro, Bounty Farm Ltd, Toucan Industries et al on board
– club co-sponsors female football tournament for East Bank Demerara

The ten cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS continue to attract support for their ongoing Christmas Outreach programme, which commenced on Sunday December 6.

The teams – Poonai’s Pharmacy Under 12 and Under 13, Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under 21 and First Division – intend to share out 1000 food hampers, each worth about $4000; 5000 toys; 500 special Christmas packages, and provide Christmas breakfast to hundreds of senior citizens.

The teams have also been sharing out footwear, clothing, educational materials, school materials as part of the largest Christmas Outreach Programme ever since the club was founded in 1990.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Minister Vickram Bharrat, Fitzroy McLeod, Jennifer Cipriani, Donna Todd, Leon Johnson, Bakewell, Metro, Christopher Barnwell, and Farfan and Mendes Ltd have all made financial contributions towards the programme.

The club has also received toys, stationery and food products from Ansa McAl, Bakewell, DeSinco Trading, National Milling Company (Namilco), Bounty Farm Ltd, Edward B Beharry, Toucan Industries, China Trading, Factory Price, Regal Stationery, WR Enterprise, Survival Supermarket (Duncan Street), Demerara Distillers Ltd, Guyana Lottery, Mattai Supermarket and T&R Construction, among others.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster disclosed that, to date, more than 700 food hampers have been distributed in the first week of the programme. According to the long serving executive, the RHTY&SC has touched the entire Berbice coastline by using the church system to reach those most in need.
Over forty churches, NGOs and orphanages have so far benefited from the programme, including Deeper Life Assembly, St Agnes Anglican Church, St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic, Rose Hall Wesleyan, Elohim Adventist and No 71 Living Water Assembly.
Over 20 cricket clubs have also received donations of food hampers for distribution to their memberships. The team also donated a plaque with the names of all the Catholic Priests who have served the St. Francis Xavier Church during the period 1897 to 2020.
On Sunday 13th of December, the club hosted hundreds of children at their annual Christmas Party at the Area H Ground. Each child received a bag of confectionery and biscuits, educational materials, a box of food and a Christmas toy. 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.
Meanwhile, the ten teams have offered support to the East Bank Football Association under the Presidency of Franklyn Wilson. The teams handed over three trophies, eight medals and funds for two bicycles towards the hosting of a female football tournament.
Foster has stated that the RHTY&SC was proud to assist in the development of football as it plays a part in keeping youths away from crime and drugs. Wilson expressed gratitude for the support, and said the tournament would be well organised as had obtained in the past.
The club has been supporting the tournament for some time now and has pledge to continue doing so in the future. Foster disclosed that every year the RHTY&SC cosponsors over 50 sporting events across the county in several sporting disciplines, including football, cricket, basketball, volleyball and cycling among others.