Lakers Annual Xmas Party: Bigger and Better
Twelve years after husband and wife couple James and Keisha Young held their first community Christmas party for children in Lake, the annual event continues to grow and is eagerly anticipated by parents and kids, alike. Earlier today, a few hundred children descended on Lawrence Avenue where the street was blocked off to accommodate the festive spirit that they brought with them. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Over four hundred children from across the city have been invited to attend the twelfth annual Lakers Christmas Party. It’s an event that brings together children from Lake Independence and other communities in the Old Capital. The brainchild of Keisha and James Young, this social gathering for children of all ages continues to grow, year on year.
Keisha Young
Keisha Young, Owner, Lakers Mini Mart
“We actually started this party very small when we opened the mini mart and we started giving gifts to twenty-five to fifty kids because we saw the need in the community. And then it was only James and I, my husband and I, and then we started getting our friends and our family and it is what it is today.”
Among those friends and family is Glenda Trapp. For many years, she has been visiting Belize in December for the sole purpose of also being able to give back to the community. Trapp has been integral to the success of the party.
Glenda Trapp
Glenda Trapp, Co-organizer
“I am so happy and so honored that the Youngs included me in a part of this. It’s such an amazing thing to do for so many children and I really appreciate being a part of it and coming back to Belize and giving back.”
Isani Cayetano
“This year seems to be bigger than previous years. I know the COVID years seemed to put a damper on the turnout, but this year I’m understanding that we have close to three hundred students.”
Glenda Trapp
“We have more than three hundred this year. So far, I think we’ve served four hundred kids today. So it’s really amazing.”
Isani Cayetano
“Describe that feeling of being able to give back to your country and give back to these kids from the neighborhood.”
Glenda Trapp
“It’s an amazing, amazing feeling. It’s hard to explain how it feels to be able to give back to children that really appreciate what you’re doing for them.”
According to Young, the annual party is her family’s means of giving back to the community that supports them in their various businesses.
Keisha Young
“Somebody asked, why do I do the party, and I said, why not. It doesn’t take anything from us to be kind and I’m thankful for my husband who supports me, my family. We have donors from all over, you know, and I’m very grateful and thankful for them that they help me to make my dream of giving back possible for these kids out here today.”
Isani Cayetano
“How are you guys able to meet the demand, though, because this has grown year on year? Perhaps this is the biggest so far and a lot of food and a lot of gifts to be given out.”
Keisha Young
“It’s been all about us coming together. You know, I have friends from this community who cook the food. We have our volunteers who are with us for the past twelve years who look forward to coming out and giving of themselves, you know, because I always say, it’s not just about the money that you can give to us or the gifts, it’s your time, because your time means something. So I’m very grateful to the people who come out every year to give me their time for serving these kids in this community because it’s all about love, it’s Christmas and it’s all about giving back.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
