by Amy McTighe
boy receives gifts
Not everybody on Montserrat will be able to afford to celebrate on Christmas day like the rest of us eating big meals, giving gifts and spending the day with our loved ones. Some people live hand to mouth on a low income from irregular work. Some are elderly or disabled, without a family to support them. Others are immigrants far from home.
Every year Hilltop Coffee Shop and Family Centre raises money to be able to provide some of these families with a ‘basket of love’, full of things that will help them to celebrate Christmas.
This year they were able to raise enough money to put together 8 ‘baskets’ and distributed them around the island on Saturday, December 20.
It was truly humbling to be a part of this generous distribution, which spread happiness across the island, north to south.
Several local businesses gave discounts on goods purchased for the baskets. Montserrat Hydroponics donated fresh lettuces for all the baskets and also sponsored a whole basket for a family. Kristina Lea, who organised the campaign also wanted special thanks to go to Angelos, Caribbean Helicopters and all those who participated to make this possible.
Lea family of Hilltop Coffee House and Family Centre, with Marc de Dinechin from Montserrat Hydroponics.
The finished ‘baskets.’ A little boy from one of the families who received a basket, who was very happy and ran off with the chocolate before anybody could stop him!
