KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Christmas came early for more than 50 wards of the State and their caregivers at the Mustard Seed Communities-run Mary’s Child facility in Kingston, and Yadel Home for Girls in Old Harbour, St Catherine.        

Owner and Operator of Bella Day Spa in Kingston and Shades of Elegance in Old Harbour, Treacha Reid-McCalla, along with 13 members of her team, took time out to pamper the girls on December 6 and 13.

Reid-McCalla told JIS News that she always had a burning desire to give back to society.

“As a corporate citizen, where beauty is our business, it is only fitting that some of the most vulnerable are the beneficiaries of what we give back to society,” she said.

She pointed out that more than J$400,000 was spent to coordinate the events at both facilities.

Reid-McCalla said she has always been involved in corporate social responsibility activities over the years, so after consultation with the Child Development Agency (CDA), it was agreed to extend this initiative to State-care facilities.

“This initiative is about bringing Christmas early to girls in State care,” she added.    

The girls at Mary’s Child are underage mothers.

“We took into consideration that having a baby limits the time mothers have to take care of themselves as they would normally do, and it is even more so with teenage mothers, because the focus is on taking care of the child. So, we took the babies from the mothers and then pampered them,” Reid-McCalla said.        

“We want them to feel that they are still women and that they can still look beautiful despite the fact that they have a baby,” she explained.

Twenty-eight girls from Mary’s Child had their hair either permed or braided. They were also treated to a manicure, pedicure and body massage.     

According to Reid-McCalla, the girls looked beautiful and fresh after the beauty treatment.

At Yadel, the 22 wards, aged 14 and over, experienced the same beauty treatment as those at Mary’s Child. This home was established in 2001 as a safe haven for girls 10 to 18 years of age.

The girls and their caregivers at both facilities were also presented with tokens such as clothing, feminine products, care packages, and baby formula and diapers for those at Mary’s Child. The activities also included meals and entertainment, in which the girls participated.

 “It was a remarkable experience for us and the wards. They wanted to know when we are coming back and the house mothers were so elated,” Reid-McCalla told JIS News.      

A ward at Yadel, who had her hair braided, told JIS News that she feels extra special.

“Because it is Christmas time, this is really a wonderful gift, so I am very appreciative of what Mrs Reid-McCalla and her team did for us,” she said.