Group Hug Hosts Christmas Party for Disadvantaged Kids

Group Hug – it’s a newly established organization dedicated to assisting disenfranchised youths and families. Today, they hosted one hundred and fifty primary school children from the city and Hattieville to a Christmas party at the B.T.L. Park. President Andre Pitts told News Five about the success of the initiative. 

Andre Pitts, President//Founder, Group Hug

“Today, we are having our first Christmas party since our group started this year. This is our first opportunity to do something for the kids during the Christmas time and so we catered for a hundred and fifty children. We’ve been out here since one p.m. having fun.”

Duane Moody

“How were the children selected and what is it that they get?”

Andre Pitts

Andre Pitts

“The children were selected from some of the primary schools in the city as well as Hattieville. We arranged transportation and we got them out here. They got some excellent prizes—bicycles, cell phones, all sorts of educational games, board games and a whole long list.”

Duane Moody

“How was this made possible?”

Andre Pitts

“This was made possible by the help of hundreds of people. Everyone chipped in; a toy here, some apples. And then we had some corporate sponsors such as United Airlines, Infotel, Smart VIP Wireless and Sip and Sit Tours and they all gave some substantial gives and so many friends and families. The idea of Group Hug is to help people who are marginalized and disenfranchised and on the other hand, it is to get young people proactive and engaged. If you look out here, everything was organized and coordinated by young people, young volunteers…even young sponsors and so far, excellent.”

Since its inception, Group Hug did a back to school backpack drive for students and a flood relief initiative during the mid-October flooding in the City.