Thanks to Santa Claus and an army of “elves” from Tree of Hands, a record 1,056 children received gifts Saturday afternoon at the Tortola Pier Park. They then watched as the Lions Club of Tortola lit up two Christmas trees, appropriately named Irma and Maria.
“Joy was brought to the hearts of many,” said Lions Club President Carvin Malone in his remarks after the distribution.
Normally, he explained, the Lions set up their tree at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza on Main Street earlier in the season, but the hurricanes necessitated a different plan.
“Everyone wanted to help,” she said. “It was just a snowball effect.”
Juan Ramirez, a father of three who works as a dispatcher at the Pier Park, praised the new arrangement and said his sons were delighted with the toys they received.
“They said to [the volunteers], ‘I don’t want this one; I want that one,’” he laughed. “And they actually gave it to them.”
He was also surprised by the sheer scale of this year’s event.
“Because of the storms, you’d think it would be smaller, more scaled back,” he said. “But this is even bigger than last year.”
Toys throughout the VI
Through hand-shaped ornaments displayed on trees set up at businesses around the territory, donors chose a gift for a child in need, ranging from infants to 16-year-olds.
Local donors dropped gifts off at various locations in the VI, and overseas donors ordered gifts from Amazon via Aeropost.
On Saturday, volunteers distributed the presents from 2 to 4 p.m.
Mr. Ramirez praised the quality of the gifts.
“I saw some kids with tablets, and those are expensive,” he said.
According to Ms. Durante, toys were also distributed to Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with the help of Team Rubicon — the first year each of the sister islands has received gifts.
Happy kids
Around 4 p.m., Tree of Hands volunteer Alvin Fernandez helped pack the leftover toys into boxes. By and large, he said, the children seemed happy with their gifts.
“Some kids really want to take their time,” he explained, “but we try to get everyone something they want.”
One boy chose a volleyball, then came back later and decided he wanted another toy, so volunteers gave it to him.
“Then he changed his mind again,” laughed Mr. Fernandez. “By then it was gone. He didn’t seem too upset, though.”
Brandywine Estate Chef Regis Bourdon worked with his employees to dish out thousands of free hot dogs and juice, explaining that each child who registered received a wristband, entitling them to a gift from Santa, cookies and a meal.
He added that the restaurant’s participation was an offshoot of the free meal programme it had already launched.
“We have been providing free food for kids since the day after Irma,” he explained. “We knew we had to get down here and participate, and it’s going fantastic. The kids seem really happy.”
Entertainment
Throughout the afternoon, girls and boys with painted faces took turns in the Frozen-themed bouncy castle in between grabbing board games, Legos, toy cars and dolls.
Dancers from Firebird Studio and the Althea Scatliffe Primary School drum corps performed for the crowd, and children squealed with delight as they contorted themselves to go under a limbo stick, with Seth Miller, a student at Althea Scatliffe, winning the prize for going the lowest.
At dusk, Lion Rosemarie Flax, secretary of the Christian Council, flipped the switch on the trees. As the lights went on, parents clamoured to take their children’s photos next to the trees.
“I was amazed that we were able to adjust,” said Natalio Wheatley, a member of the Lions Club, as he gazed up at the display. “Tree of Hands has done a fantastic job. That it was such a well-attended event is really a testament to the resilience of the people of the BVI.”
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