Princes Town family, church share Xmas cheer

Amid the covid19 pandemic, a Princes Town family and a religious organisation embarked on spreading Christmas cheer in unrelated drives, which began over the weekend and continued during the week.

The Jaisarie family of Churkoo Village in Princes Town treated over 200 children to treat bags, toys, meals from Zaza Steak House, drinks and ice cream.

Sherlana Jaisarie, an attorney, became a helper to Santa Claus on Saturday when the family invited children to participate in a drive-by to collect wrapped gifts.

Owing to the pandemic, a man dressed as Santa supervised the operations.

She said the family usually give cash donations to religious organisations in the area.

“Children from Barrackpore hired a maxi and came down. There were people from Cedar Hill Village and St Charles Village. Many Venezuelan families also attended. Some came walking,” Jaisarie said.

“The purpose of this drive was to bring joy and cheer to children in the midst of a difficult year. We fulfilled our purpose.”

Police also attended and ensured covid19 restrictions were enforced.

During the week, the family distributed hampers to families in need.

At an unrelated Christmas drive titled the Lighthouse Project, the Church of God of Prophecy of TT (COGOPTT), a religious organisation, assisted 400 families with food hampers.

The organisation’s special services committee (SSC) chaired by pastor Michael Ramkhelawan sponsored and distributed the 400 hampers to families in need throughout the country.

The Lighthouse Project became a reality on Sunday at Christian Fellowship Ministries, one of COGOPTT’s branch church.

National overseer, Bishop Dr Maurice Jones, said he “released God’s richest blessings upon the hampers” before distribution. Bishop Dr Anslem Serrette, district overseer (south), he said, ministered a timely word to the congregation.

Other local branches in the north, south, central and Tobago got hampers to give out.

“We also engaged councillors and MPs to choose needy people in their respective areas. People were very appreciative of the initiative. The distribution continued during the week.

“As the raging covid19 pandemic entered our nation, many individuals experienced job loss,as we saw globally, leaving many families without basic amenities, inclusive of food items.”

Jones said the event was the first of many to come from the SSC team as it activates its "call to service".

“Yes, something good can certainly emerge from a bad situation,” Jones said.