Christmas with the Children

CHRISTMAS IS a time for giving love, living forgiveness, and making spirits bright; and all of us as Optimists have played some part in making the season memorable especially for the marginalized children of our communities. I wish to thank you all for making the Zone 4 theme "One one coco full basket - harnessing the power of one" so meaningful.
From Kingston and St Andrew to St Mary and Portland our children had an experience with Optimists that should profoundly impact their lives in a positive way. These small gestures in the form of Christmas treats hosted by our various clubs show that we can and do make a difference no matter the scale of our actions.
And what a difference we made this past Christmas season.

Starting on Tuesday December 13 the members of Optimist Club of West St Andrew spent time with the children at the Pembroke Hall Basic school.  Then on Friday December 16 the Optimist Club of Scenic Castleton hosted over 60 children from the sleepy community of Castleton in St Mary. What an afternoon of games, giveaways, food and fellowship on the grounds of the Castleton United Church Hall set against the back drop of a lush mountainside.  The children certainly had a whale of a time to kick-start their Christmas 2011.

OC Kingston Central Christmas Treat

OC Kingston Central Christmas Treat

On Saturday December 17 it was time for the new but fast-rising Optimist Club of Kingston Central to host children of inner-city Kingston at the Coke Methodist Church.
It was a double whammy for Zone 4 on Sunday December 18 when The Sunset Optimist Club of Liguanea brought cheers to the boys at Mathew 25:40 in Kingston and the Optimist Club of West Portland engaged the boys at Muirton Boys Home in Manchioneal.

See Sunset Liguanea's pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/110501965454544279653/ChristmasTreat?feat=directlink#

I was fortunate to be able to make the Castleton and West Portland events and I know that my experience would have been just as fulfilling at the others.  But I must make special mention of the young men who are under the care of the State at the Portland location perched on a hill-top overlooking the Caribbean sea as it bathes the eastern Jamaica shoreline.

A view from Muirton Boys Home

It was a full day for the members of the club.  While some prepared a full Christmas dinner, others worshiped, counseled and played games with the boys. Still others found time to engage the "parents". These boys are wonderful human being beings who due to some unfortunate circumstance have found themselves in the care of the State.  But their future remain hopeful not only because of the care and attention they receive from those watching over them or others such as Optimists but also because they are intelligent, focused and wonderful personalities going to school and doing what is good to make their lives right. To Miss Goodwind and staff I say, nuff respect!
And, to all the Optimists of OI-7804, I say, thank you for being such great Optimists, human beings, and friends of youth. Thanks for spreading joy, hope and Optimism and of course for making spirits bright for the young ones in Christmas 2011.

OC Kingston Central game time with children at Christmas Treat 2011