IN celebration of the festive season, Wendy’s extended a glimmer of hope to the staff and wards at two children’s homes in St Andrew and Manchester with a special Christmas lunch.

Almost 40 children at the Wortley Home For Girls and Hanbury Home for Children benefited from a series of festive holiday treats.

“We recognise that Christmas is about sharing gifts and time with those we care about. It was, therefore, important to us to do something meaningful for the Wortley and Hanbury homes residents and staff,” said Wendy’s marketing officer Chadale Smith.

“We aim to bring a little cheer to the residents during this festive season, and the children loved it. It is a joy to see the children’s happiness when they receive gifts. We want the children to know that we love them, appreciate them, and value them. Though it will not change the world, for an hour or two it will give the kids a bit of reprieve and a sense of normality.

“A part of [the] Wendy’s culture is based on common sense values of giving back to society; this is a value that our founder Dave Thomas lived by. We take the time to give back to the communities we serve and are firm believers in doing the right thing,” added Smith.

The manager at the Wortley Home for Girls, Delores Bailey expressed her gratitude for the gifts from Wendy’s.

“The girls were looking forward to this treat. The meals from Wendy’s were well received and everyone enjoyed the experience. On behalf of all the girls and the staff at the Wortley Home, I would like to say a big thank you to Wendy’s for treating us to lunch. It was a great interaction, and we thank you very much,” said Bailey.

“It is a season of giving, and it is also a season where we extend our gratitude to the givers. We want you to know that nothing you do for our children goes unnoticed,” added Bailey as she noted that the past two years brought many challenges for everyone. She underscored that the joy of the Christmas season has helped to brighten the dampened spirits of children.