Christmas is just around the corner and this year, once again, two local couples are making sure that some of the poorest of the poor will get a visit from Santa.
Bob and Cindy Thomas and Gary and Christine Storrs are heading back to the Roatan on a mission to bring Christmas to the many children who are living in some of the poorest conditions in the world.
This is not the first time they have undertaken such an endeavour and they are humbled by the community support they receive.
“I am blown away this year. You could knock me over with a feather,” said Cindy, recounting how a complete stranger dropped into her workplace last week, donated two bags of gifts, and wrote a cheque on the spot. This person has been following their journey on social media and wanted to contribute.
She adds that many businesses have been contributing throughout the year.
“We are truly overwhelmed by the support from the community. Without them this wouldn’t happen,” said Cindy.
They are heading to Roatan on December 14 and staying until December 28.
“We always try to go right over Christmas, because what is Christmas without Santa?” said Cindy.
They began these excursions working with a group called, Roatan Because We Care.
“We are going to be helping them (Roatan Because We Care) out and will be supplying them with candy canes,” she said.
They are planning a breakfast with Santa on Christmas Day. This is being hosted at a resort property that will be inviting the children from the local community and sponsoring a morning of food and fun.
They will also be visiting the Sandy Bay Lighthouse Ministry Orphanage on Christmas Eve Day.
‘We are going to be showing up with Santa and gifts for each of the kids staying there,” she said. “We are going to bring pizza and be giving out gifts, and play a little bit.”
“We are also going to be visiting the hospital, (probably about four times). We did that two years ago and we went three days in a row, and each day there were approximately six to eight new babies, so we have baby blankets and clothes and soft toys.”
That’s not all. They are also going to head out in the community in a van full of gifts and distribute them in the poorest neighbourhoods.
“We are going to have Christmas at the side of the road with the kids. We are going to go community-to-community, way out in the middle of nowhere. We are going to go up into the back hills of Roatan into the poorest of the poor communities that are forgotten, and we are going to give out gifts. That is going to be a real highlight for me.”
She acknowledges the risks.
“When we go out there with Santa, and we have gifts for the kids and his big bag of candy canes… Santa will open the door and go ‘ho-ho-ho’ and the meanest looking men you can imagine get the biggest smiles on their faces and come and hug us,” she said.
Their departure day is still weeks away, but they have already shipped over 30 boxes of gifts to the island. If people still want to donate, Thomas says they could always use funds to help in the shipping expenses.
The gifts are modest, but they have great meaning for people who have nothing,
“Something little to say ’you’re not alone, people think of you,’ especially at Christmas.”
