…And Belize Red Cross has a party for the kids

While Rotary was providing a Christmas meal, the Belize Red Cross was throwing a party for deserving primary school students. The kids were thrilled and their faces lit up with joy as they received their gifts and partied with Santa Claus at the sixteenth annual Red Cross bash.

Adela Parra, Coordinator, Belize Red Cross
“It’s a tradition that we do every year. This had started sixteen years ago with the help of a lady in Miami; her name is Barbara Reneau who sponsors us every year. She has a group of people in Miami and this is what she does every year. So they sponsor the toys and we sponsor the rest as Red Cross.”

Duane Moody
“Who are these kids, where do they come from?”

Adela Parra
“These kids come from all over Belize; schools are one. We send their tickets to the teacher and they identify the children and they identify the children that need to be here today.”

Duane Moody
“You say “need”. What do you mean by that? Are they less fortunate?”

Adela Parra
“Less fortunate, we would say that some of them may not have toy, some other might have a toy. So they get a toy from the Red Cross.”

Duane Moody
“What do you feel these kids are getting from an event like this every year for the past sixteen years?”

Adela Parra
“Every year it varies, its not the same children coming so we give tickets to each school; ten tickets for each school and then they send their children to us. Even though if it is small but we are happy that they are getting a gift, they are getting a meal, they are getting their party bags also along with a drink.”

Duane Moody
“Ms. Parra, what does it take for an event like this to be possible?”

Adela Parra
“It takes time, dedication and also begging; asking our volunteer and things like that to support us with this type of program.”

According to Coordinator Adela Parra, the party was possible with the support from the public and business sectors.