… Ministry of Natural Resources, Metro, among those on board

THE ten cricket teams of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) continue to attract support for their ongoing Christmas Outreach programme which started on Sunday, December 6. The teams – Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and Under-13, Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division intend to share out 1 000 food hampers worth about $4 000 each, 500 toys, 500 special Christmas packages and present a Christmas breakfast to hundreds of senior citizens. Additionally, the teams distributed footwear, clothing, educational materials and school supplies as part of their largest-ever Christmas Outreach Programme since the club was founded in 1990. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Minister Vickram Bharrat, Fitzroy McLeod, Jennifer Cipriani, Donna Todd, Leon Johnson, Bakewell, Metro, Christopher Barnwell, and Farfan and Mendes Ltd made financial contributions.

The club also received toys, stationery and food products from Ansa McAl, Bakewell, DeSinco Trading, National Milling Company (NAMILCO), Bounty Farm Ltd, Edward B Beharry, Toucan Industries, China Trading, Factory Price, Regal Stationery, WR Enterprise, Survival Supermarket (Duncan Street), Demerara Distillers Ltd, Guyana Lottery, Mattai Supermarket, T&R Construction among others. Club Secretary/CEO and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster stated that to date over 700 food hampers have been distributed during the first week of the programme. According to the long-serving Club executive, RHTYSC has touched the entire Berbice coastline by using the church system to reach those most in need. Over 40 churches, NGOs and orphanages have so far benefitted from the programme including Deeper Life Assembly, St Agnes Anglican Church, St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic, Rose Hall Wesleyan, Elohim Adventist and No.71 Living Water Assembly.

On Sunday December 13, the club hosted hundreds of children at its annual Christmas Party hosted at the Area H Ground. Each child received a bag of confectionery and biscuits, educational materials, a box of food and a Christmas toy. The programme will conclude with the hosting of the annual Christmas Village in the compound of Rose Hall Town Primary School from December 22 to 24. Meanwhile, the 10 teams have offered support to the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) whose president is Franklyn Wilson. The teams handed over three trophies, eight medals and funds for two bicycles towards its hosting of a female football tournament.
Foster stated that RHTYSC was proud to assist in the development of football as it plays a part in keeping youths away from crime and drugs. Wilson expressed gratitude for the support and promised that the tournament would be as well organised as in the past. The club has been supporting the tournament for a while now and has pledged to continue doing so in the future. Foster disclosed that every year the RHTYSC co-sponsors over 50 sport events across the county in several disciplines – football, cricket, basketball, volleyball and cycling among others.