…while kids live large with Salvation Army

It’s the biggest banquet you’ll ever find in Belize, hosted by the organisation with the nation’s biggest heart. Today I got to join the Salvation Army as they brightened the faces of what seemed like every child in the city.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It is not every day that a child gets to enjoy delicious foods, free gifts and spend an afternoon with the Governor General. So you can imagine the joy on these boys and girls faces when they were invited to the annual Salvation Army Christmas luncheon.

This year the Salvation Army catered to one thousand children. The boys and girls come from various primary schools in Belize City.

Major Errol Robateau, Regional Commander
?Well I think it is very important for them. I cannot see through their eyes exactly but just by their reactions. As a matter of fact, as we go around the city preparing, children are asking when is the dinner. When is the dinner? You know every day for a child is like a year, but the day has finally come and the children are so excited in coming in.?

This year instead of hosting all the children at one location, Regional Commander, Major Errol Robateau explained that, based on past experiences, it was decided to have an equal number of children at Holy Redeemer Parish Hall and at their headquarters on Cemetery Road.

Major Errol Robateau
?One reason is for accommodation. We didn?t like the idea of children of one age waiting for one or an hour and a half while another set is enjoying themselves. So we have divided it to prevent mainly the frustration among children. So both sides now are more comfortable and they are now able to enjoy the party much better.?

Instead of having the traditional turkey with rice and beans, the boys and girls enjoyed a tasty combination of patties, sandwiches, chicken and a dessert.

Major Errol Robateau
?The advisory board, which is our guiding force decided to change the meal this year from the regular rice and beans, turkey and ham because the previous years we have noticed that there were a lot of wastage. So we try to give them something different and as nice for them to enjoy.?

What did not change are the gifts and apples the children each received at the end of their meal. After suffering from a major financial loss last year due to the financial misdeeds of its former regional commander, the Salvation Army this year had an especially difficult time meeting its commitments. So more then ever the religious organisation had to rely on the support of the public and business community.

This year, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, PACT, through its goodwill gesture initiative donated several boxes of toys.

Deseree Cain, Training Officer, PACT
?It?s a tradition that we started back in 2002 where we had ten children that we took to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and we didn?t do it last year and as well because the last person who was in charge of the Salvation Army did so much wrong, we thought that this was a good idea to transmit the feeling of giving and the spirit of giving for the Christmas season.?

Jacqueline Woods
?How many toys were you guys able to collect??

Deseree Cain
?Well we bought three hundred toys, sponsored by PACT totally. I think the total was just over fifteen hundred dollars.?

Robateau says they are very grateful to organisations like PACT and the Rotary Club of Belize that held toy drives at various locations because they were having problems reaching their target of one thousand toys.

Major Errol Robateau
?Whatever toys we have left over we will be taking it to places like Georgeville and on the Western Highway where we have really needed children and we will be able to share it with those poor children in that area.?

And nothing can replace the smiles and excitement the children experienced as some who could not wait until Christmas Day to open their presents did so eagerly…not to mention protectively, as soon as they left the building.?

Robateau says their kettle appeal has been going well but it won’t be until Christmas Eve, when that drive comes to an end that they will know just how much money the Salvation Army managed to collect. Meanwhile, Channel 5?s camera will be at the kettle at Brodies on Albert Street Saturday morning for viewers to record their free Christmas greetings.?