FOR the past 18 years sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, through her Pocket Rocket Foundation, has hosted a treat for children in the Corporate Area community of Waterhouse where she grew up, and she has no plans to stop any time soon.

During this year’s treat, held last Friday on Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive (formerly Ashoka Road), the sprint legend told the Jamaica Observer that the annual Christmas treat fulfils one of her childhood dreams.

“I never really had a Christmas growing up… I remember when I just left high school and I went to UTech (University of Technology, Jamaica), I said this is what I wanted to do, I want to come back, I want to have a big treat, I want the kids to come out, because Christmas for me was just a regular day.

“My mom would be out selling… in Half-Way-Tree and she would not come home until the morning of my birthday (December 27) and I really don’t go anywhere so I was just always home,” said Fraser-Pryce, founder and chair of the Pocket Rocket Foundation.

Over the past five years the foundation has introduced a second Christmas treat for children at Windalco Sports Complex in Ewarton, St Catherine, but Fraser-Pryce said the Waterhouse treat remains the staple on her calendar, as she underscored the importance of hosting the event.

“In the community of Waterhouse children don’t have Christmas like a lot of people, so they would not have received toys and treats, so they are always looking forward to it. It is almost like if there is no treat they are going to call me. The foundation schedules this event every year, because it is important we show up in these areas as well,” said Fraser-Pryce.

She added that providing the children with a memorable moment to return to school is even more important.

“I remember one Christmas my mom made turn cornmeal (polenta) and I cried because I didn’t want any turn cornmeal for dinner, because I wanted to go back to school and tell people that I had rice and peas and chicken but I never had that so I want to help them make memories. I know when they go back to school they are going to say I got this from Shelly-Ann Fraser treat,” add the recently retired sprinter.

Acknowledging the October 28 passage of Hurricane Melissa and its devastation to the south- and north-western ends of island, Fraser-Pryce said her foundation will also be extending the treat to families who have been affected.

“While the Pocket Rocket Foundation was on the ground doing relief efforts [after Melissa], we understood the importance of coming together as a community and making sure that we show up. And I know at this Christmas period it is very difficult for them so we are planning on going that side in January, because we will have toys and stuff to give out to the kids,” said Fraser-Pryce.

The multiple Olympic and World champion lauded the efforts of her sponsors as she underscored that the event would not have been possible without them.

“I really want to big up my sponsors. It takes a lot of manpower, it takes a lot of resources to pull it together so I am really grateful for Excelsior, GraceKennedy, Digicel, Main Event Entertainment Group, Popeyes, Ondre’s Auto Sales, Sanmerna Paper Products, Nike, and Toyota Jamaica,” she said

In addition, Fraser-Pryce extended gratitude to 30 volunteers, some of whom are recipients of the Pocket Rocket Foundation scholarship.

The Pocket Rocket Foundation uses sport, education, and community-based initiatives to uplift children across the island, with its annual Christmas treats remaining a highlight of its outreach efforts.

Matteau Thaxter of the Pocket Rocket Foundation entertaining some of the children who turned out for the foundation’s annual Christmas treat in Waterhouse, St Andrew, last Friday.