The Tribune

THE Tribune Media Group’s Santa Claus Christmas Committee, fresh from hosting the 25th annual ‘Toys for Tots’ party at Atlantis on Monday, carried on the good work by providing food for 300 elderly residents and sick children who were unable to get out of their inner city homes.

On Monday afternoon, holiday meals were distributed to residents in the Grove community from Prayer and Praise Asssembly, those located on Bimini Avenue and Market Street off Baillou Hill Road, residents on First Street, Second Street, Third Street, Hard Rock Alley and from Pastel Gardens to Kemp Road. The food donated by SuperValue (baked chicken, peas and rice, macaroni and cheese and Sunny D) and by Atlantis (chicken nuggets) was given to members of Cynthia “Mother” Pratt’s team to distribute. Mrs Pratt, the former Deputy Prime Minister, is a figurehead in the St Cecilia community and was instrumental in the start of the Santa Claus Christmas Committee’s campaign to provide a party, meal and toy for the children from the Coconut Grove area a quarter of a century ago.

Almost 700 less privileged children from inner city communities in New Providence were taken by bus to Atlantis on Boxing Day, for many the first time they had crossed the Paradise Island bridge. Donations of new toys and funds came from corporate Bahamas and from the public while more than 50 volunteers - including young children - helped out in the Crown Ballroom for over four hours, serving food and drinks, supervising the bouncey castle, dance floor and basketball hoops and helping the children choose their presents in Santa’s ‘toyland’.